IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


"  ilM     12  5 


ll4i 


122 

.^  mil  2.0 


1.8 


1.25      1.4      1 A 

■^ 

6"     

► 

v^ 


/. 


!"# 


^^ 


o 


/ 


/^ 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions 


Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


1980 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquis  ci-dessous. 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


□    Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagde 


□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 


D 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pelliculde 


Cover  title  missing/ 


I I    Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

□    Coloured  maps/ 
Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 

□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pellicui6es 

r~7|    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 


Pages  d6color6es,  tachetdes  ou  piqudes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 


□    Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


0 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 


□    Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualitd  indgale  de  I'impression 

□    Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 


0 


D 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int^rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  film^es. 


D 
D 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6X6  filmdes  6  nouveau  de  fapon  6 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


□    Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmsntaires; 


10X 


This  item  i3  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 

14X 18X 22X 


26X 


30X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


tails 

du 
odifier 

une 
mage 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduceu  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grdce  A  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6x6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grar:d  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet6  de  l'exemplaire  i\\m6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimde  sont  film6s  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmds  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  ^^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END  "), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — »-  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  et^.    nv^y  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  rh.;se  tco  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  aro  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
light  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  6  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  filmd  6  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  6  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m6thode. 


arrata 
to 


pelure, 
)n  6 


n 

32X 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

■■■ 


ORNITHOLOGY 


OK    I  HE 


U.MTHl)  STATKS  A\l)  CANADA. 


IN    TWO    VOLUMES. 
Vol.  I. 


*1.  ' 


r'^ 


UNI 


7 


6' 


^ 


POPULAR    HANDBOOK 


OF  THE 


ORNITHOLOGY 


OF  THE 


UNITRI)   STATES   AND  CANADA, 


Bascti  on  iJ^Tuttairs  iHauual. 


By  MONTAGUE   CHAMBERLAIN. 


Vol.  I. 
THE    LAND    BIRDS. 


-I 


BOSTON: 
LITTLE,  BROWN,  AND   COMPANY. 

1891.  , 


C 


Copyrij^Jit,  J  SOI, 
U\  Little,  Brown,  and  Comtany. 


;? 


©Intbfrstto  ?3rrs3: 
John  Wilson  amj  Son,  Cambridgp 


i)» 


P  R  E  F  ACE. 


THIS  work  is  practically  an  edition  of  "  A  Manual 
,  of  the  Ornitholoj^y  of  the  United  States  and  of 

Canada,"  written  by  THOMAS  NUTlALL,  though  only  as 
much  of  the  original  title  has  been  retained  as  seemed 
consistent  with  the  changed  character  of  the  text. 

Nuttall's  work  has  been  out  of  print  for  several  years ; 
but  its  popularity  and  real  value  have  kept  it  in  demand, 
and  the  few  copies  recently  offered  for  sale  were  tlis- 
posed  of  at  high  prices.  A  new  edition  was  thus  called 
for;  but  it  seemed  unwise  to  issue  the  work  in  its  origi- 
nal form,  or  to  remodel  it  to  the  extent  that  would  be 
required  to  arrange  it  in  harmony  with  the  new  n'i^^ime 
of  affairs  ornithological;  for  the  science  has  advanceu' 
rapidly  since  the  "Manual"  was  written,  and  the 
changes  effected  have  been  numerous  and  important. 
A  new  and  entirely  different  system  of  classification  has 
come  in  vogue ;  the  nomenclature  has  been  altered  and 
trinomials  introduced;  and,  indeed,  little  is  left  of 
ll American  ornithology  as  Nuttall  knew  it,  except  the 
birds,  —  and  even  of  these,  two  species  have  become 
extinct,  and  a  large  number  of  new  forms  have  been 
discovered. 

Thomas  Nuttall  came  to  this  country  from  England 
in   1808,  and  between  1825  and   1834  held  the  positions 


VI 


I'KEKACE. 


of  Curator  of  the  liotanic  Garden  and  Lecturer  on 
Natural  History  at  Harvard  University.  \i\  184J  he 
returned  to  Kn^dand,  where  he  resided  until  his  death 
in   1859,  at  the  a^Mj  of  seventy-three. 

The  first  volume  of  the  "  Manual,"  containinj^  an 
account  of  the  Land  Jiirds,  was  published  in  1832,  and 
a  second  edition,  with  some  additional  matter,  appeared 
in  1840.  The  second  volume,  of  which  one  edition  only 
was  issued,  came  out  in  1834. 

The  "  Manual  "  was  the  first  hand-book  of  the  subjcci 
that  had  been  published,  and  its  delightful  sketches  uf 
bird-life  and  its  fragrance  of  the  field  and  forest  carried 
it  into  immediate  favor,  But  Nuttall  was  more  than  a 
mere  lover  of  Nature,  he  had  considerable  scientific  at- 
tainment; and  though  he  appears  to  have  enjoyed  the 
study  of  bird-life  more  than  he  did  the  musty  side  of 
ornithol(\<;y,  with  its  dried  skins  and  drier  technicalities, 
he  had  an  eye  trained  for  careful  observation  and  a  stu- 
dent's respect  for  exact  statement.  It  was  this  rare  com- 
bination that  gave  to  Nuttall's  work  its  real  value ;  and 
these  chapters  of  his  are  still  valuable,  —  much  too  valu- 
able to  be  lost;  for  if  a  great  advance  has  been  made  in 
the  study  of  scientific  ornithology,  —  which  term  repre- 
sents only  the  science  of  bird-skins,  the  names  by  which 
they  are  labelled,  and  the  sequence  of  these  names, 
in  other  words,  the  classification  of  birds,  —  if  this  science 
has  advanced  far  beyond  Nuttall's  work,  the  study  of 
bird-life,  the  real  history  of  our  birds,  remains  just  about 
where  Nuttall  and  his  contemporaries  left  it.  The  pres- 
ent generation  of  working  ornithologists  have  been  too 
busy  in  hunting  up  new  species  and  in  variety-makin;::; 


}o  sl| 
'genci 
that 
^Ave  k| 
StoocI 
this 
portii] 
and 
p.  older! 
reeen 
It 
binet 
book 
and  i 
deter 
I  hav 
tion  I 
secon 
has  t 
chapt 
distin 
plum 
well-! 
unde 
addei 
speci 
a  wo 
as  ei 
,  birds 
:;       Tl 
V  gard 


rKKl  ACli. 


vK 


-ccturcr  mi 
In  184-'  lie 
il  his  death 

iitainiiijr  an 
I  1832,  and 
r,  appeared 
edition  only 

the  subject 

sketches  uf 

rest  carried 

lore  than  a 

cientific  at- 

njoyed  the 

sty  side  of 

hnicah'ties. 

and  a  stii- 

rarc  coni- 

akic ;    and 

1  too  vahi- 

n  made  in 

rm  reprc- 

by  which 

c    names, 

us  science 

study  of 

ust  about 

The  pres- 

bcen  too 

y-making 


I 

■0  study  the  habits  of  birds  with  equal  care  and  dili- 
gence, and  it  is  to  Wilson  and  Audubon  and  Nuttall 
that  we  are  chiefly  indebted  even  at  this  day  for  what 
We  know  of  bird-life.  I  must  not,  however,  be  under- 
stood as  implying  tha*  no  additions  have  been  made  to 
this  branch  of  knowledge,  nor  as  undervaluing  the  im- 
portance of  recent  observations.  But  the  field  is  large; 
and  in  comparison  with  ♦^^he  work  accomplished  by  the 
older  writers,  and  with  that  which  is  still  unknown,  the 
recent  acquisitions  must  be  termed  slight. 

It  was  suggested  to  me  that  the  new  might  be  com- 
bined with  the  old,  —  that  an  interesting  and  useful 
book  might  be  prepared  by  taking  Nuttall's  biographies 
and  inserting  brief  notes  relating  the  results  of  recent 
determinations  in  distribution  and  habits.  That  is  what 
I  have  attempted  in  the  present  work.  The  Introduc- 
tion has  been  given  exactly  as  it  appeared  in  Nuttall's 
second  edition,  and  the  text  of  the  biographical  matter 
has  been  changed  but  little.  My  notes  follow  each 
chai)ter  in  a  smaller  tyjie,  that  they  may  be  readily- 
distinguished.  I  have  also  rewritten  the  descriptions  of 
plumage,  and  have  endeavored  to  phrase  these  in  such 
well-known  and  untechnical  terms  that  they  may  be 
understood  by  unskilled  readers.  To  these  I  have 
added  a  description  of  the  nest  and  eggs  of  each 
species.  In  short,  an  efifort  has  been  made  to  prepare 
a  work  that  will  be  useful  to  young  students,  as  well 
as  entertaining  to  those  who  are  merely  interested  in 
birds. 

The  new  matter  has  been  selected  with  special  re- 
gard for  the  needs  of  these   classes  of  readers    for  I 


vin 


PREFACE. 


Ill 


have  had  another  motive  in  the  preparation  of  this 
work  besides  that  of  preserving  Nuttall's  biographies. 
Some  time  ago  I  made  a  promise  to  several  Canadian 
friends  to  prepare  a  book  treating  of  Canadian  birds 
that  would  be  scientifically  correct  and  at  the  same  time 
"  popular"  in  its  style.  So  while  writing  these  pages 
I  have  kept  Canadim  readers  constantly  in  mind,  and 
have  given  here  an  account  of  every  species  that  has 
been  found  within  the  Dominion  east  of  the  Manitoba 
plains,  together  with  their  Canadian  distribution. 

The  limits  of  a  "  hand-book  "  demanding  the  most 
rigid  economy  of  space,  when  treating  of  so  extensive 
a  subject  I  have  been  compelled  to  omit  those  species 
which  occiu*  only  to  the  westward  of  the  Mississippi 
valley,  though  I  have  endeavored  to  make  mention  of 
every  bird  that  has  occurred  within  this  Eastern  Faunal 
Province,  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  the  Arctic  Ocean, 
and  to  give  their  distribution  and  breeding  area  so  far 
as  these  are  known.  Nuttall  knew  very  little  about 
the  VV^estern  birds,  and  therefore  only  a  few  short 
chapters  of  his  have  been  lost  through  restricting  the 
scope  of  the  present  work  to  Eastern  forms. 

The  nomenclature  adopted  is  that  of  the  "  Check- 
List"  issued  by  the  American  Ornithologists'  Union. 
The  sequence  of  species  is  that  arranged  by  Nuttall, 
with  some  few  trifling  alterations;  and  being  radically 
different  from  that  of  recent  authors,  the  student  must 
be  referred  to  other  works  for  guidance  in  classification 
as  well  as  for  diagnoses  of  the  higher  groups.  Coues' 
"  Key  to  North  American  Birds"  is  a  useful  work,  and 
contains  matter  not  obtainable    elsewhere,  though  the 


tclcaij 
^ican 
iobtal 
i:han( 
iBairc 
i"A. 
be  e( 
It 
have 
Chai 
of  tl 
indel 


PREFACE. 


IX 


on  of  this 
iographics. 
I  Canadian 
icHan  birds 

same  time 
lese  pages 
mind,  and 
s  that  has 

Manitoba 
tion. 

the  most 

extensive 
>e  species 
lississippi 
icntion  of 
rn  Faunal 
ic  Ocean, 
ea  so  far 
:Ie  about 

w   short 
:ting  the 


^system    of  classification  now   generally   used   is    more 

Iclearly  stated  in  Ridgway's  *'  Manual  of  North  Amer- 

^ican  Birds."     Hut  the  most  complete  work  at  present 

lobtainable,  and  one  which  every  student  should  have  at 

hand,  is  "The  History  of  North  American  Birds,"  by 

Baird,  Brewer,  and  Ridgwa).     With  that  work  and  tlie 

H"  A.  O.  U.  Check-List  "  to  guide  him,  the  student  will 

be  equipped  for  thorough  study. 

It  only  remains  for  me  to  thank  many  friends  who 
have  aided  me.  To  Mr.  William  Brewster  and  Mr. 
Charles  F.  Batchelder,  the  president  and  the  treasurer 
of  the  Nuttall  Ornithological  Club,  I  am  particularly 
indebted  for  kind  advice  and  assistance.  Xor  must  I 
forget  to  mention  the  name  of  my  fellow-worker,  Ernest 
E.  Thompson,  of  Toronto.  A  large  number  of  the 
illustrations  are  from  drawings  made  especially  for  this 
work  by  Mr.  Thompson. 

M.  C. 

Harvard  Univkrhity,  Camfiridge.  Mass. 
September,  1S91. 


Check- 
Union. 
Nuttall, 
'adically 
nt  must 
ification 
Coues' 
rk,  and 
igh  the 


UCK}! 


Blue])irc 

Bobolinl 
Bunting 


P 


Caraca 
Cardinal 
Catbird 
Chat 

Chickad 


Chuck-w 
Cowbird 
Creeper, 

Crossbil 

Crow 

Fi 
Cuckoo, 


DiCKCIS! 

Eagle,  I 
( 
( 

FiN'CIl,  I 
Flicker 


C  O  N  T  E  N  TS. 


ACKBiRD,  Red-winged 
Rusty      . 
Yellow-headed 

Bluebird 

Bobolink 

Bunting,  Indigo .     .     . 
Painted     .     . 


Caracara,  Audubon's 

Cardinal 

Catbird 

Chat 

Chickadee  ... 

Carolina    . 
Hudsonian 
Chuck-will's-widow 

Cowbird 

Creeper,  Bahama  Honey 

Urown .     .     . 
Crossbill,  American    . 
\\  hite-winged 

Crow         

Fish     ... 
Cuckoo,  IJlack-billed  . 
Mangrove 
Yellow-billed 

blCKCISSKL     .... 


Eagle,  Bald  . 

Gulden  . 
Grav  Sea 


FiN'cii,  Purple 
Flicker       .     . 


Pack 

96 

119 

109 

310 

3'4 
6 

'95 
172 

146 

150 

'5' 

465 

104 

3S8 
3^7 
37i^ 
381 
126 


'3' 

436 

437 
432 

20S 

'9 
'5 

372 
43S 


Flycatcher,  Acadian  . 
Crested  . 
Least  .  . 
Ulive-sided 
Traill's.  . 
Yellow-bellied 


fiNATCATCIlER    .      .       . 

Goldfinch 

American  . 
Goshawk   .... 
Crackle,  Boat-tailed    . 

Purple 
Grosbeak,  Blue  .     . 

I"lvening     . 

Pine       .     . 

Rose-breasted 
Gyrfalcon 


Hawk,  Broad-winged 
(.'ooper's     . 
Duck      .     .     . 
I  larris's      .     . 
Marsh     .     , 
Pigeon    .     .     . 
Red-shi)ul(lered 
Red-tailed  .     . 
Rough-lcggcd 
Sharp-shinned 
Short-tailed    . 
Sparrow 

Humming  Bird  . 


Jay.  P.iue 
Canada 


Pace 

4'3 
421 

410 

424 

426 

170 

353 

348 

3' 
114 

"S 

37' 
3^7 
375 
369 
7 

49 

34 

9 

46 

5' 
It 

43 
4'- 
4' 
35 
50 
13 
457 

^33 
'38 


Xll 


CONTENTS. 


I    I. 


Jay,  Florida   .    .     . 
Junco,  Slate-colored 


KlNGHIRD 

Gray     .     . 

Kingtibher      .... 

Kinglet,  Goklen-trowned 
Ruby-cKJWiictl 

Kite,  tvergiade      .     . 
.Mi.s.si.ssippi 
Swallow-tailed   . 
White-tailed  .     . 


Lapland  Longspur 

Lark,  Horned     .     . 

Meadow  .     . 


Martin,   Purple    .    . 
Maryland  Vellow-throat 


Mocking  Bird 


Niciitmawk 

Nuthatch,  lirown-headcd 
I  Red-breasted  . 

White-breasted 


Oriole,  lialtimore 
Orchard  . 

Osprev      .... 

Oven  V.ird     .     .     . 

Owl,  liarn 

Barred  . 
Burrowing 
Great  Gray    . 
Great  Horned 
Hawk    .     .     . 
Long-eared 
Richardson's 
Saw-whet  .     . 
Screech 
Short-eared    . 
Snowy  .     .     . 


Parikiukt,  Carolina 
Pewec,  Wood     .     . 
Phnebe            ... 
Pipit 


Page 
137 

339 


404 
414 
461 

2S1 
40 
37 
39 
3« 

304 
294 

79 

391 
249 

1S7 

470 
3S6 

385 
3^3 


S3 
93 
27 

75 
70 
7S 
64 
61 

53 
66 

73 
72 

57 
68 

55 


428 
419 

415 
292 


Raven 
Redpoll 


Redstart 
Robin 


Hoary 


Page 

i:c 

355 


SaI'SUCKKR     .... 

Shrike,  Loggerhead    . 

Northern    .     . 

Siskin,  I'ine  .... 

Skylark 

Snowriakc  .... 
Sparrow,  Acadian  Sharp 

Bachman's  . 

Chipping     . 

Field  .     .     . 

Fo.K       .       . 

Grasshopper 
Hcnslow's 
House     . 
Ipswich  . 
Lark  .     . 
Le  Conte's 
Lincoln's 
Nelson's 
Savanna 
Seaside  . 
Sharp-tailed 
Song  .     . 
Swamp    . 
Tree   .     . 
Vesper    . 
White-crowned 
White-throated 

Swallow,  Bank  .     .     . 
Barn   .     .     . 
Clitf    .     .     . 
Rough-winged 
Tree         .     . 

Swift,  Chimney  .     .    . 


45- 


tailed 


Tanagkr,  Scarlet  .     . 

Summer    . 

Thrasher,  Brown    .     . 

Thrush,  Bicknell's  .     . 

Gray-cheeked 

Hermit 


3ji 

30c 

345 
-*  ->- 

■3-1 

3m 

33^' 
33^ 
3-^9 
33^ 
354 


2( 


34'' 
344 

34- 


3'^ 

31^ 
401 

3' 14 
3<)'i 

40,1 
3on 
46;, 

3ori 
300 

19- 
21: 
21 1 

2C5 


CONTENTS. 


harp-tailed 


er 


led 
ted 


Pace 

•  i:c 

•  jjj 

•  J  5'^ 

.    Km 

1 6; 

JCC 

345 
■  J-/ 
'  jjj 

3-^9 
3jC 
35^ 
32^ 

3'; 
331 


■  34^> 

•  34-1 

•  34-' 

-.  ■.1 

.■»  ■>- 

•  3-0 

•  3'5 

•  3>>^ 

•  401 

•  3"4 
■  3')'' 

40j 

4f'l 


PAtii; 

Thrush,  Louisiana  Water   .     .214 
(Hu'-back'.d      .     .     .211 

Water 21  j 

Wilson's 207 

Wood 202 

ritiuousc.   I'uftcd 142 

Tuwiiee 359 


VlREo,  lilueheaded  .  . 

rhiladelphia  .  . 

Ktd-cyed  .  . 

Warbling    .  .  . 

Whitecyed  .  . 

Yelluw-throated 

Vulture,  lilack  .      .  .  , 

Turkey     .  .  , 


Warbler,  I5achman's    .     . 
Hay-breasted 
lilack  and  white 
IJlackburnian 
niack-poll      .     , 
i'.lack-throatedlMue 
Black-throated 

Green     .     . 
I  Slue-winged  . 
Canadian  .     . 
Cape  May 
Cerulean  .     . 
Chestnut-sided 
Connecticut  . 
Golden-winged 
Hooded     .     . 
Kentucky .     . 
Kirtland's 


176 
166 
1S2 
I  So 
17S 
174 
4 
I 

261 

237 

-j- 

23S 

^45 

230 

258 

227 

226 

247 

235 

253 
260 

167 
246 
265 


Warbler,     Magnolia  .     .     . 

Mourning       .     . 

Myrtle  .     ,     .     . 

Nashville .     .     . 

Orange-crowned 

Parula  .     .     .     . 

Pine      .     .     .     . 

Prairie      .     .     . 

Prothonotary 

Swainson's    .     . 

'I'ennessee 

Wilson's   .     .     . 

Worm-eating 

Yellow      .     .     . 

Yellow  Palm 

Yellow-throated 
Waxwing,  Bohemian       .     . 

Cedar    .     .     .     . 

Wheatear 

Whip-poor-will 

Woodpecker,    American 
toed 


Xlll 

pACiK 
224 

217 
263 
264 
244 

239 
242 
257 
256 
261 
168 

-55 

230 
219 
228 
•52 

1^4 
•290 
467 


three 


Arctic  three-toed  455 


Downy 
Hairy  .  .  . 
Ivory-billed 
Pileated  .  . 
Ked-bellied  . 
Ked-cockaded 
Redheaded  . 
Wren,  Bewick's      .... 

Carolina      .... 

House 

Long-billed  Marsh    . 

.Short-billed  Marsh 

Winter 


456 


452 

45' 
441 

444 
448 

454 
446 

276 
272 
266 
279 
277 
270 


306 

3C') 
19: 

211 

2C5 


i 


i^ '. 


Oi 

the  a: 

their 

the  ai 

in  an 

yieldi 

like  r 

recess 

being 

most 

go  wi 

rectec 

may  1 

round 

tarily 

sunim 

them 

heard 

light, 

How 

are  th 

and  tl 

bound 

lence, 

of  per 


^::mm 


</:-. 

-O:' 


^^m^^^^ 


>>■■  ry  tv 


:^^a^^^ 


S^fiTT^^^rl^?*^^ 


mi^-^t^^^k^-^^ 


INTRODUCTION. 


Of  all  the  classes  of  animals  by  which  we  are  surrounded  in 
the  ample  field  of  Nature,  there  are  none  more  remarkable  in 
their  api)earance  and  habits  than  the  feathered  inhabitants  of 
the  air.  They  play  around  us  like  fairy  spirits,  elude  approach 
in  an  element  which  defies  our  i)ursuit,  soar  out  of  sight  in  the 
yielding  sky,  journey  over  our  heads  in  marshalled  ranks,  dart 
like  meteors  in  the  sunshine  of  summer,  or,  seeking  the  solitary 
recesses  of  the  forest  and  the  waters,  they  glide  before  us  like 
beings  of  fancy.  They  diversify  the  still  landscape  with  the 
most  lively  motion  and  beautiful  association  ;  they  come  and 
go  with  the  change  of  the  season ;  and  as  their  actions  are  di- 
rected by  an  uncontrollable  instinct  of  provident  Nature,  they 
may  be  considered  as  concomitant  with  the  beauty  of  the  sur- 
rounding scene.  With  what  grateful  sensations  do  we  involun- 
tarily hail  the  arrival  of  these  faithfiil  messengers  of  spring  and 
summer,  after  the  laj^se  of  the  dreary  winter,  which  compelled 
them  to  forsake  us  for  more  favored  climes.  Their  songs,  now 
heard  from  the  leafy  groves  and  shadowy  forests,  inspire  de- 
light, or  recollections  of  the  pleasing  past,  in  every  breast. 
How  volatile,  how  playfully  capricious,  how  musical  and  hapjjy, 
are  these  roving  sylphs  of  Nature,  to  whom  the  air,  the  earth, 
and  the  waters  are  alike  habitable  !  Their  lives  are  spent  in 
boundless  action ;  and  Nature,  with  an  omniscient  benevo- 
lence, has  assisted  antl  formed  them  for  this  wonderfiil  display 
of  perpetual  life  and  vigor,  in  an  element  almost  their  own. 


1 


XVI 


INTRODUCTION. 


4I" 


!lil 


If  we  draw  a  comparison  between  these  inhabitants  of  the 
air  and  the  earth,  we  shall  perceive  that,  instead  of  the  laii,'^ 
head,  formidable  jaws  armed  with  teeth,  the  capacious  cht^t, 
wide  shoulders,  and  muscular  legs  of  the  quadrupeds,  thn 
have  bills,  or  pointed  jaws  destitute  of  teeth;  a  long  and  pliant 
neck,  gently  swelling  shoulders,  immovable  vertebrae ;  the  fore- 
arm attenuated  to  a  point  and  clothed  with  feathers,  forming; 
the  expansive  wing,  and  thus  fitted  for  a  different  species  di 
motion  ;  likewise  the  wide  extended  tail,  to  assist  the  general 
provisi(jn  for  buoyancy  throughout  the  whole  anatomical  fraiuc. 
For  the  same  general  purpose  of  lightness,  exists  the  contrast 
of  slender  bony  legs  and  feet.  So  that,  in  short,  we  perceive 
in  the  whole  conformation  of  this  interesting  tribe,  a  structure 
wisely  and  curiously  adapted  for  their  destined  motion  throui^h 
the  air.  Lightness  and  buoyancy  appear  in  every  part  of  tlie 
structure  of  birds  :  to  this  end  nothing  contributes  more  than 
the  soft  and  tlelicate  plumage  with  which  they  are  so  warml\ 
clad ;  and  though  the  wings  (or  great  organs  of  aerial  motion 
by  which  they  swim,  as  it  were,  in  the  atmosphere)  are  formed 
of  such  light  materials,  yet  the  force  with  which  they  strike  the 
air  is  so  great  as  to  impel  their  bodies  with  a  rapidity  unknown 
to  the  swiftest  quadruped.  The  same  grand  intention  of  form- 
ing a  class  of  animals  to  move  in  the  ambient  desert  they 
occujiy  above  the  earth,  is  likewise  visible  in  their  internal 
structure.  Their  bones  are  light  and  thin,  and  all  the  muscles 
diminutive  but  those  appropriated  for  moving  the  wings.  I'he 
lungs  are  placed  near  to  the  back-bone  and  ribs ;  and  the  air 
is  not,  as  in  other  animals,  merely  confined  to  the  pulmonary 
organs,  but  passes  through,  and  is  then  conveyed  into  a  num- 
ber of  membranous  cells  on  either  side  the  external  region  vi 
the  heart,  communicating  with  others  situated  beneath  the 
chest.  In  some  birds  these  cells  are  continued  down  the 
wings,  extending  even  to  the  pinions,  bones  of  the  thighs,  ami 
other  parts  of  the  body,  which  can  be  distended  with  air  at 
the  pleasure  or  necessity  of  the  animal.  This  diffusion  of  air 
is  not  only  intended  to  assist  in  lightening  and  elevating  the 
botly,  but  also  ajipears  necessary  to  prevent  the  stojipage  or 


JDternl 

lapidij 

thus  til 
almosil 


INTRODUCTION. 


XVII 


>itants  of  the 

1  of  the  large 
>acious  cht-,!, 
rupeds,   they 
ig  and  pliant 
rte ;  the  fon- 
lers,  forniin- 
It  species  ui 
L  the  general 
niical  frame, 
the  contrast 
we  percei\c 

,  a  structure 
ion  through 
'  part  of  the 
;  more  than 

2  so  warm  I  \ 
irial  motion 
are  formed 
y  strike  the 
y  unknown 
3n  of  form- 
lesert  they 
'ir  internal 
he  muscU's 
ngs.  'J'he 
md  the  air 
iulmonary 
to  a  num- 

region  of 
neath  the 
lown  the 
lighs,  and 
ith  air  at 
ion  of  air 
ating  the 
ppage  or 


interruption  of  respiration,  which  would  otherwise  follow  the 
japitlity  of  their  motion  through  the  resisting  atmosi)here  ;  and 
thus  the  Ostrich,  though  deprived  of  the  power  of  flight,  runs 
almost  with  the  swittness  of  the  wind,  and  recjuires,  as  he 
possesses,  the  usual  resources  of  air  conferred  on  other  birds. 
Were  it  possible  for  man  to  move  with  tiie  rapidity  of  a  Swal- 
low, the  resistance  of  the  air,  without  some  such  peculiar  pro- 
vision as  in  binls,  would  quickly  bring  on  suffocation.  The 
fUpcrior  vital  heat  of  this  class  of  beings  is  likewise  probably 
due  to  this  greater  aeration  of  the  vital  fluid. 

IJirds,  as  well  as  cjuadrupeds,  may  be  generally  distinguished 
into  two  great  classes  from  the  food  on  which  they  are  destined 
to  subsist  ;  and  may,  consequently,  be  termed  carnivorous  and 
granlvorous.  Some  also  hold  a  middle  nature,  or  partake  of 
both.  The  granivorous  and  herbivorous  birds  are  provided 
with  larger  and  longer  intestines  than  those  of  the  carnivorous 
kinds.  Their  food,  consisting  chiefly  of  grain  of  various  sorts, 
is  conveyed  whole  into  the  craw  or  first  stomach,  where  it  is 
softened  and  acted  upon  by  a  peculiar  glandular  secretion 
thrown  out  upon  its  surface;  it  is  then  again  conveyed  into  a 
seconfl  preparatory  digestive  organ ;  and  finally  transmitted 
into  the  true  stomach,  or  gizzard,  formed  of  two  strong  muscles 
connected  externally  with  a  tendinous  substance,  and  lined  in 
ternally  with  a  thick  membrane  of  great  power  and  strengtli ; 
and  in  this  place  the  rmmasticated  food  is  at  length  com])letely 
triturated,  and  jirepared  for  the  operation  of  the  gastric  juice. 
The  extraordinary  powers  of  the  gizzard  in  comminuting  food, 
to  prepare  it  for  digestion,  almost  exceeds  the  bounds  of  creil- 
ibility.  Turi<eys  and  common  fowls  have  been  made  to  swal 
low  sharp  angular  fragments  of  glass,  metallic  tubes,  and  balls 
armed  with  needles,  and  even  lancets,  which  were  found 
broken  and  compressed,  without  producing  any  apparent  pain 
or  wounds  in  the  stomach.  The  gravel  pebbles  swallowed  by 
this  class  of  birds  with  so  much  avidity,  thus  appear  useful  in 
bruising  and  comminuting  the  grain  they  feed  on,  and  [)repar- 
ing  it  for  the  solvent  action  of  the  digestive  organs. 

Those  birds  which  live  chiefly  on  grair  and  vegetable  sub- 

VOI,.    I.  /) 


XVllI 


IN  IKODUCTION. 


-,w 


stances  partake  in  a  degree  of  the  nature  and  disposition  of 
herbivorous  (luadrupcds.  In  lioth,  the  food  and  the  provision 
for  its  digestion  are  very  similar.  Ahke  distinguished  tor 
sedentary  habits  and  gentleness  of  manners,  their  lives  .m 
harmlessly  and  usefully  passed  in  collecting  seeds  and  fruits, 
and  ridding  the  earth  of  noxious  and  destructive  insects  ;  tlu\ 
live  wholly  on  the  defensive  with  all  the  feathered  race,  am; 
are  content  to  rear  and  defend  their  offspring  from  the  atta(  k^ 
of  their  enemies.  It  is  from  this  tractable  and  gentle  race,  ii> 
well  as  from  the  amphibious  or  acpiatic  tribes,  that  man  lub 
long  succeeded  in  obtaining  useful  and  domestic  specii^, 
which,  from  their  prolificacy  and  hardihood,  afford  a  vast 
supply  of  wholesome  and  nutritious  food.  Of  these,  the  Ihn, 
originally  from  India  ;  the  (loose,  Duck,  and  Pigeon  oi 
I'uro]K' ;  the  Turkey  of  America  ;  and  the  Pintado,  or  Guinea- 
hen  of  Africa,  are  the  principal :  to  which  may  also  be  ad- 
ded, as  less  useful,  or  more  recently  naturaliz-ed,  the  Peaciw  k 
of  India,  the  Pheasant  of  the  same  country,  the  Chinese 
and  Canada  Goose,  the  Muscovy  Uuck,  and  the  European 
Swan. 

Carnivorous  birds  by  many  striking  traits  evince  the  destiny 
for  which  they  have  been  created  ;  they  are  provided  with 
wings  of  gre;n.  length,  supported  by  i)owerful  muscles,  which 
enable  them  to  tly  with  energy  and  soar  wnth  ease  at  the 
loftiest  elevations.  They  are  armed  with  strong  hooked  bills 
and  with  the  sharp  and  formidable  claws  of  the  tiger  ;  they  arc 
also  further  distinguished  by  their  large  heads,  short  netks, 
strong  muscular  thighs  in  aid  of  their  retractile  talons,  and 
a  sight  so  piercing  as  to  enable  them,  while  soaring  at  the 
greatest  height,  to  perceive  their  prey,  upon  which  they  some- 
times descend,  like  an  arrow,  with  undeviating  aim.  In  these 
birds  the  stomach  is  smaller  than  in  the  granivorous  kinds,  and 
their  intestines  are  shorter.  Like  beasts  of  prey,  they  are  of  a 
fierce  and  unsociable  nature  ;  and  so  far  from  herding  together 
like  the  inoffensive  tribes,  they  drive  even  their  offspring  from 
the  eyry,  and  seek  habitually  the  shelter  of  desert  rocks,  ne- 
glected ruins,  or  the  solitude  of  the  darkest  forest,  from  whence 


they  ui 
the  gli 


INTRODUCTION. 


XIX 


rlisposition  o( 
till'  provision 
nguishcd    Inr 
leir  lives  ;ir 
s  and  fniit\ 
nsccts  ;   thn 
•(•(1  race,  am; 
n  the  atta(  k< 
Mitle  race,  ii> 
lat  man  li;b 
Stic    species, 
fford    a   \ast 
se,  the  Hin, 
1    Pigeon   01 
),  or  Guinea- 
also  be  ad- 
;he  Peacijck 
;he    Chinese 
e   FAiropeaii 

the  destiny 

)vided  with 

Bcles,  which 

Mse   at  the 

ooked  bills 

r ;   they  are 

lort  necks, 

alons,  and 

ing   at  the 

they  some- 

In  these 

kinds,  and 

ey  are  of  a 

ig  togetlier 

)ring  fnim 

rocks,  no- 

)m  whence 


thfv  tuttr  loud,  terrific,  or  i)icrcing  cries,  in  accordance  with 
the  gloomy  rage  and  inquietude  of  their  insatiable  desires, 

l;r>ides  these  grand  divisions  of  the  winged  nations,  there 
are  others,  which,  in  their  habits  and  manners,  might  be  com- 
pared to  the  amphibious  animals,  as  they  live  chiefly  on  the 
water,  and  feed  on  its  productions.  To  enable  them  to  swim 
and  dive  in  (|uest  of  their  a(iuatic  food,  their  toes  are  con- 
nected by  broad  membranes  or  webs,  with  which,  like  oars, 
they  strike  the  water,  and  are  impelled  with  force.  In  this  way 
even  the  seas,  lakes,  and  rivers,  abounding  with  fish,  insects, 
and  seeds,  swarm  with  birels  of  vari(jus  kinds,  which  all  obtain 
an  abundant  supply.  There  are  other  atpiatic  birds,  frequent- 
ing marshes  and  the  margins  of  lakes,  rivers,  and  the  sea, 
which  seem  to  partake  of  an  intermediate  nature  between  the 
land  and  water  tribes.  Some  of  these  feed  on  fishes  anel  rep- 
tiles ;  others,  with  long  and  sensible  bills  and  exteneled  necks, 
seek  their  food  in  wet  and  mudely  marshes.  These  birds  are 
not  made  for  swinnning  ;  but,  familiar  with  water,  they  wade, 
and  many  follow  the  edge  of  the  retiring  waves  of  the  sea, 
gleaning  their  insect  prey  at  the  recession  of  the  tides  :  for 
this  kind  of  life  Nature  has  jirovided  them  with  long  legs,  bare 
of  feathers  even  above  the  knees;  their  toes,  unconnected  by 
webs,  are  only  partially  furnished  with  mendjranous  apjjcn- 
dages,  just  sufficient  to  support  them  on  the  soft  and  boggy 
grounds  they  freciucnt.  To  tiiis  tribe  belong  the  Cranes,  Snipes, 
Sandpipers,  Woodcocks,  and  many  others. 

In  comparing  the  senses  of  animals  in  connection  with  their 
instinct,  we  find  tliat  of  jr^V/Zto  be  more  extendeel,  more  acute, 
and  more  distinct  in  birds,  in  general,  than  in  (piadrupeds.  I 
say  "  in  general,"  for  there  are  some  birds,  such  as  the  Owls, 
whose  vision  is  less  clear  than  that  of  quadrupeds ;  but  this 
lather  results  from  the  extreme  sensibility  of  the  eye,  which, 
Aough  dazzled  with  the  glare  of  full  day,  nicely  distinguishes 
even  small  objects  by  the  aid  of  twilight.  In  all  birds  the 
Organ  of  sight  is  furnished  with  two  membranes,  —  an  external 
»nd  internal,  —  additional  to  those  which  occur  in  the  human 
•ubject.     The  former,  mcinbrana  iiictitans,  or  external  mem- 


XX 


INi'KCJDLCTION. 


Jti 


braiic,  is  situated  in  the  larger  angle  of  the  eye,  and  is,  in 
fact,  a  second  and  more  transp.irent  eyelid,  whose  motions  an 
directed  at  pleasure,  and  its  use,  besides  occasionally  cleaniiii; 
antl  pulisiiing  the  cornea,  is  to  temper  the  excess  of  light  and 
adju'.t  the  (piantity  a<lmitted  to  the  extreme  delicacy  of  tin. 
organ.  The  other  membrane,  situated  at  the  bottom  of  tin 
eye,  appears  to  be  an  expansion  of  the  o|)tic  nerve,  which,  re- 
<  civing  more  immediately  the  impressions  ot  the  light,  must  hi 
much  more  sensible  than  in  other  animals  ;  and  consequenily 
the  sight  is  in  birds  far  more  perfect,  and  embraces  a  wider 
range.  Facts  and  observations  bear  out  this  conclusion  ;  for  a 
Sparrow-hawk,  while  hovering  in  the  air,  perceives  a  Lark  or 
other  small  bird,  sitting  on  the  ground,  at  twenty  times  the  dis- 
tance that  such  an  object  would  be  visible  to  a  man  or  dni,', 
A  Kite,  which  soars  beyond  the  reach  of  human  vision,  vii 
distinguishes  a  lizard,  field-mouse,  or  bird,  and  from  this  lofty 
station  selects  the  tiny  object  of  his  prey,  descending  u])on  it 
in  nearly  a  perpendicular  line.  But  it  may  also  be  added  that 
this  prodigious  extent  of  vision  is  likewise  accompanied  with 
equal  accuracy  and  clearness ;  for  the  eye  can  dilate  or  con- 
tract, be  shaded  or  exposed,  dei)ressed  or  made  protuberant, 
so  as  readily  to  assume  the '  precise  form  suited  to  the  degree 
of  light  and  the  distance  of  the  object ;  the  organ  thus  answer- 
ing, as  It  were,  the  purpose  of  a  self-adjusting  telescope,  with  .1 
shade  for  examining  the  most  luminous  and  dazzling  objects; 
and  hence  the  Ivigle  is  often  seen  to  ascend  to  the  higher 
regions  of  the  atmosphere,  gazing  on  the  unclouded  sun  as  on 
an  ordinary  and  familiar  object. 

The  rapid  motions  executed  by  birds  have  also  a  reference 
to  the  perfection  of  their  vision ;  for  if  Nature,  while  she  en- 
dowed them  with  great  agility  and  vast  muscular  strength,  had 
left  them  as  short-sighted  as  ourselves,  their  latent  powers 
would  have  availed  them  nothing,  and  the  dangers  of  a  per- 
petually imi)eded  progress  would  have  repressed  or  extin- 
guished their  ardor.  We  may  then,  in  general,  consider  the 
celerity  with  which  an  animal  moves,  as  a  just  indication  of 
the  perfection  of  its  vision.     A  bird,  therefore,  shooting  swiftly 


LNTRUDUCTIUN. 


\xi 


and  is,  in 
notions  an 
lly  cleaning 
jf  light  and 
acy  of  the 
torn  of  the 
,  which,  re- 
ht,  must  he 
jnscquenily 
;es  a  wiikr 
ision  ;  for  a 
;  a  Lark  or 
nes  tlu'  (lis- 
nan  or  tlog, 

vision,  yet 
ni  this  iofty 
ling  upon  it 

added  that 
)anicd  with 
late  or  con- 
)rotuberant, 

the  degree 

us  answer- 
ope,  with  a 
ng  objects; 

the  higher 
sun  as  oil 

a  reference 
lile  she  en- 
ength,  hail 
nt  powers 
s  of  a  per- 
or  extin- 
msider  the 
dication  of 
ting  swiftly 


through  the  air,  must  undoiibted'y  see  better  than  one  which 
slowly  des(  ribes  a  waving  tract.  The  weak-sighted  bat.  living 
carefully  thnjiigh  bars  of  willow,  even  when  the  eyes  were  ex- 
tinguished, may  seem  to  suggest  an  cxcei)tion  to  this  rule  of 
relative  velocity  and  vision;  but  in  this  case,  as  in  that  of  some 
blind  individuals  of  the  hiunan  species,  the  c.\(|uisiti'  autlilory 
apiJar.itus  seems  capable  of  Mipplyiug  the  defect  uf  sight.  Nor 
are  the  ilickerings  of  the  bat,  constantly  performeil  in  a  narrow 
circuit,  at  all  to  be  compared  to  the  distant  and  lofty  soarings 
of  the  ilagle,  or  the  wide  wanderings  of  the  smaller  birds,  wh(j 
often  aimually  pus  and  re|)ass  from  the  arctic  circle  to  the 
eciuator. 

'I'he  idea  of  motion,  and  all  the  other  ideas  connected  with 
it,  stu  h  as  those  of  relative  velocities,  extent  of  coimtry,  the 
proportional  height  of  eminences,  and  u(  the  various  inequali- 
ties that  i)revail  on  the  surface,  are  iheri-fore  more  precise  in 
birds,  and  occupy  a  larger  share  of  their  ( oncejnions,  than  in 
the  grovelling  (luadrupeds.  Nature  would  seem  to  have  pointed 
out  this  superic^rity  of  vision,  by  the  more  conspicuous  and 
elaborate  structure  of  its  organ  ;  for  in  birds  the  eye  is  larger  in 
proportion  to  the  bulk  of  the  head  than  in  quadru])eds  ;  it  is 
also  more  delicate  and  finely  fishioned,  and  the  impressions  it 
receives  must  conseinieiuly  excite  more  vivid  ideas. 

Another  cause  of  difference  in  the  instincts  of  birds  and 
qua<lrupeils  is  the  nature  of  the  element  in  which  they  live. 
Birds  know  better  than  man  the  degrees  of  resistance  in  the 
air,  its  tem])erature  at  different  heights,  its  relative  density,  and 
many  other  iiarticiilars,  probably,  of  which  we  can  form  no 
ade(iuate  conception.  They  foresee  more  than  we,  and  indi- 
cate belter  than  (jiir  weather-glasses,  the  changes  which  happen 
in  that  voluble  Ihiid  ;  for  often  ha\e  they  contended  with  the 
violence  of  the  wind,  and  still  oftener  have  they  l)orrowed  the 
advantage  of  its  aid.  The  Eagle,  soaring  above  the  clouds,  can 
at  will  escape  the  scene  of  the  storm,  and  in  the  lofty  region  of 
calm,  far  within  the  aerial  boundary  of  eternal  frost,'  enjoy  a 

1  The  mean  heights  of  eternal  frost  under  the  equator  and  at  the  Kititude  of 
30^  .md  00    are,  respectively,  15,207,  11,484,  and  3,818  teet. 


xxn 


INTRODUCTIUN. 


m 


serene  sky  and  a  bright  sun,  while  the  terrestrial  animals  re- 
main involved  in  darkness  and  exposed  to  all  the  fury  of  the 
tem[)est.  In  twenty-four  hours  it  can  change  its  climate,  and 
sailing  over  different  countries,  it  will  form  a  picture  exceeding 
the  powers  of  the  pencil  or  the  imagination.  The  quadruped 
knows  only  the  spot  where  it  feeds,  —  its  valley,  mountain,  or 
plain ;  it  has  no  conception  of  the  expanse  of  surface  or  of 
remote  distances,  and  generally  no  desire  to  push  forward  its 
excursions  beyond  the  bounds  of  its  immediate  wants.  Hence 
remote  journeys  and  extensive  migrations  are  as  rare  among 
quadrupeds  as  they  are  fre([uent  among  birds.  It  is  this 
desire,  founded  on  their  acquaintance  with  foreign  countries, 
on  the  consciousness  of  their  expeditious  course,  £?nd  on  their 
foresight  of  the  changes  that  will  happen  in  the  atmosphere, 
and  the  revolutions  of  seasons,  that  prompts  them  to  retire 
together  at  the  powerful  suggestions  of  an  unerring  instinct. 
When  their  food  begins  to  fail,  or  the  coM  and  heat  to  incom- 
mode them,  their  innate  feelings  and  latent  powers  urge  them 
to  seek  the  necessary  remedy  for  the  evils  that  threaten  their 
being.  The  inquietude  of  the  old  is  communicated  to  the 
young;  and  collecting  in  troops  by  common  consent,  influ- 
enced by  the  same  general  wants,  impressed  with  the  approach- 
ing changes  in  the  circumstances  of  their  existence,  they  give 
way  to  the  strong  reveries  of  instinct,  and  wing  their  way  over 
land  and  sea  to  some  distant  and  better  country. 

Comparing  animals  with  each  other,  we  soon  perceive  that 
s/fic//,  in  general,  is  much  more  acute  among  the  quadrupeds 
than  the  birds.  F'ven  the  pretended  scent  of  the  Vulture  is 
imaginary,  as  he  does  not  perceive  the  tainted  carrion,  on 
which  he  feeds,  tl  rough  a  wicker  basket,  though  its  odor  is  as 
potent  as  in  the  open  air.  This  choice  also  of  decaying  flesh 
is  probably  regulated  by  his  necessities  and  the  deficiency  of 
his  muscular  powers  to  attack  a  living,  or  even  tear  in  pieces  a 
recent,  prey.  The  structure  of  the  olfactory  organ  in  birds  is 
obviously  inferior  to  that  of  quadrupeds ;  the  external  nostrils 
are  wanting,  and  those  odors  which  might  excite  sensation 
have  access  only  to  the  duct  leading  from  the  palate ;  and  even 


'    3 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXill 


imals  re- 
ry  of  the 
late,  and 
xceeding 
uadrupcd 
mtain,  or 
;-.ce  or  of 
arwanl  its 
.     Hence 
ire  among 
It  is   this 
countries, 
d  on  their 
mosphere, 
1  to  retire 
ig  instinct. 
;  to  inconi- 
urge  them 
eaten  their 
ted  to  the 
ent,  influ- 
approaclv 
they  give 
way  over 

■rceive  that 

uadrupeds 

Vulture  is 

:arrion,  on 

odor  is  as 
laying  flesh 
ficiency  of 
in  pieces  a 

in  birds  is 
nal  nostrils 
sensation 

;  and  even 


in  those,  where  the  organ  is  disclosed,  the  nerves,  which  take 
their  origin  from  it,  are  far  from  being  so  numerous,  so  large, 
or  so  exi)anded  as  in  the  quadrupeds.  We  may  therefo.'.' 
regard  /our/i  in  man,  s//ie//  in  the  quadruped,  and  s/^^/i/  in 
birds,  as  respectively  the  three  most  perfect  senses  which 
exercise  a  general  influence  on  the  character. 

After  sight,  the  most  perfect  of  the  senses  in  birds  appears 
to  be  hearing,  which  is  even  superior  to  that  of  the  quadru- 
peds, and  scarcely  exceeded  in  the  human  species,  ^^'e  per- 
ceive with  what  facility  they  retain  and  repeat  tones,  successions 
of  notes,  and  even  words  ;  we  delight  to  listen  to  their  un- 
wearied songs,  to  the  incessant  warbling  of  their  tuneful  affec- 
tion. Their  ear  and  throat  are  more  ductile  and  powerful 
than  in  other  animals,  and  their  voice  more  ca])acious  and 
generally  agreeable.  A  Crow,  which  is  scarcely  more  than  the 
thousanilth  \x\n  the  size  of  an  ox,  may  be  heard  as  far,  or 
farther;  the  Nightingale  can  fill  a  wider  space  with  its  music 
than  '^^".  human  voice.  This  prodigious  extent  and  power  of 
sound  depend  entirely  on  the  structure  of  their  organs;  but 
the  su]iport  and  continuance  of  their  song  result  solely  from 
their  internal  emotions. 

The  windpipe  is  wider  and  stronger  in  birds  than  in  any 
other  class  of  animals,  and  usually  terminates  below  in  a  large 
cavity  that  aucjments  the  soiuid.  The  lungs  too  have  greater 
extent,  and  communicate  with  internal  cavities  which  are 
capable  of  being  exjianded  with  air,  and,  besides  lightening 
the  body,  give  additional  strength  to  the  voice.  Indeed,  the 
formation  of  the  thorax,  the  lungs,  and  all  the  organs  connected 
with  these,  seems  expressly  calculated  to  give  force  and  dura- 
lion  to  their  utterance. 

Another  circumstance,  showing  the  great  power  of  voice  in 
birds,  is  the  distance  at  which  they  are  audible  in  the  higher 
regions  of  the  atmosphere.  An  I'.agle  may  rise  at  least  to  the 
height  of  seventeen  thousand  feet,  for  it  is  there  jn^^t  vi>il)le. 
Flocks  of  Storks  and  Cleese  ma\-  mount  still  higher,  since,  not- 
withstanding the  sjxice  they  occupy,  they  soar  almost  out  of 
light ;  their  cry  will  therefore  be   heard  from  an  altitude  of 


XXIV 


INTRODUCTION. 


J\ 


more  than  three  miles,  and  is  at  least  fotir  times  as  powerful  as 
the  voiee  of  men  and  (luadnipeds. 

Sweetness  of  voice  and  melody  of  song  are  (lualities  which  in 
birds  are  partly  natural  and  partly  accjuired.  The  facility  with 
which  they  catch  and  repeat  sounds,  enables  them  not  only  to 
borrow  from  each  other,  but  often  even  to  copy  the  more  diffi 
cult  inflections  and  tones  of  the  human  voice,  as  well  as  of 
musical  instruments.  It  is  remarkable  that  in  the  tropical 
regions,  where  the  birds  are  arrayed  in  the  most  glowini; 
colors,  their  voices  are  hoarse,  grating,  singular,  or  terrifn. 
Our  sylvan  Orpheus  (the  Mocking-bird),  the  Hrown  'i'hni>h. 
the  ^^'arbling  Flycatcher,  as  well  as  the  Linnet,  the  'i'hni-.li, 
the  iSlackbird,  and  the  Nightingale  of  Furope,  ])rt;-eminent  for 
song,  are  all  of  the  plainest  colors  and  weakest  tints. 

The  natural  tones  of  birds,  setting  aside  those  derived  from 
education,  exi)ress  the  various  modifications  of  their  wants  and 
passicjns  ;  they  change  even  according  to  different  times  aiv! 
circumstances.  The  females  are  much  more  silent  than  tlii 
males  ;  they  have  cries  of  pain  or  fear,  murmurs  of  inquietiule 
or  solicitude,  especially  for  their  young ;  but  of  song  they  arc 
generally  deprived.  The  song  of  the  male  is  ins]iired  by  ten- 
der emotion,  he  chants  his  affectionate  lay  with  a  sonormis 
voice,  and  the  female  replies  in  feeble  accents.  The  Nightin- 
gale, when  he  first  arrives  in  the  spring,  without  his  mate,  i- 
silent ;  he  begins  his  lay  in  low,  faltering,  and  unfrecpient  air- 
and  it  is  not  imtil  his  consort  sits  on  her  eggs  that  his  en- 
chanting melody  is  com])lete  :  he  then  tries  to  relieve  im. 
amuse  her  tedious  hours  of  incubation,  and  warbles  nior. 
pathetically  anrl  variably  his  amorous  and  soothing  lay.  In 
state  of  nature  this  i)ropensity  for  song  only  continues  ihrouL'l' 
the  breeding  season,  for  after  that  period  it  either  entire!; 
ceases,  becomes  enfeebled,  or  loses  its  sweetness. 

Conjugal  fidelity  and  parental  affi'ction  are  among  the  inn-' 
conspicuous  traits  of  the  feathered  tribes.    The  pair  unite  the:: 
labors  in  preparing  for  the  accommodation  of  their  expei  ti 
progeny  ;  and  during  the  time  of  incubation  their  parti(  i]>.;- 
tion   of  the  same  cares  and  solicitudes  continually  augineni: 


!     \ 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXV 


powerful  as 

PS  which  in 

acihty  with 

iKJt  only  to 

more  clifti 

well  as  of 

;he  tropical 

jst  glowing 

or  terrifii. 

wn  'rhni>>h. 

the  Thrush, 

eminent  tur 

.erived  from 
ir  wants  and 
It  times  aiv! 
nt  than  the 
if  incjuictude 
mg  they  are 
ired  by  ten- 
a   sf)norou> 
le  Nightin- 
lis  mate,  \- 
•(]nent  airs: 
that  his  en- 
relieve  an> 
arhles   nior 
lay.     In 
iiu's  throui:: 
KT  entirrl; 

mg  the  iim-' 
r  unite  thi ' 
Mr  expei  ti 
ir  particii' ■ 
y   augnu'iit: 


their  mutual  attachment.  When  the  young  appear,  a  ni'w 
source  of  care  and  pleasure  opens  to  them,  still  strengthening 
the  ties  of  affection  ;  and  the  tender  charge  of  rearing  and 
defending  their  infant  brood  recjuires  the  joint  attention  of 
both  parents.  The  warmth  of  first  affection  is  thus  succeeded 
by  calm  and  steady  attachment,  which  by  degrees  extends, 
without  suffering  any  diminution,  to  the  rising  branches  of  the 
family. 

This  conjugal  union,  in  the  rapacious  tribe  of  birds,  the 
Eagles  and  Hawks,  as  well  as  with  the  Ravens  and  Crows,  con- 
tinues commonly  through  life.  Among  many  other  kinds  it  is 
also  of  long  endurance,  as  we  may  perceive  in  our  common 
Pewee  and  the  lilue-bird,  who  year  after  year  continue  to  t're- 
quent  and  build  in  the  same  cave,  box,  or  bole  in  the  decayed 
orchard  tree.  But,  in  general,  this  association  of  the  sexes 
ex]iires  with  the  season,  after  it  has  completed  the  intentions 
of  reproduction,  in  the  ])reser\-ation  an<l  rearing  of  the  off- 
spring. The  ai)pearance  even  of  sexual  distinction  often  van- 
ishes in  the  autmnn,  when  both  the  parents  and  their  yomig 
are  then  seen  in  the  same  humble  and  oblivious  dress.  When 
they  arrive  again  amongst  us  in  the  spring,  the  males  in  flocks, 
often  l)y  themselves,  are  clad  anew  in  their  nuptial  livery  ;  and 
with  vigorous  songs,  after  the  cheerless  silence  in  which  they 
have  ])asse(l  the  winter,  they  now  seek  out  their  mates,  and 
warmly  contest  the  right  to  their  exclusive  favor. 

With  regard  to  food,  birds  have  a  more  ample  latitude  than 
quadrupeds  ;  flesh,  fish,  amphibia,  reptiles,  insects,  fruits,  grain, 
seeds,  roots,  herbs,  —  in  a  word,  whatever  lives  or  vegetates. 
Nor  are  they  very  select  in  their  choice,  but  ot'ten  catch  in<lif- 
ferently  at  what  they  can  most  easily  obtain.  Their  sense  of 
taste  a])pears  indeed  much  less  acute  than  in  cjuadrupeds  ;  for 
if  we  except  such  as  are  carnivorous,  thi'ir  tongue  and  ])alate 
are,  in  general,  hard,  and  almost  cartilaginous.  Sight  and  scent 
can  only  direct  them,  though  they  j)ossess  the  latter  in  an  infe- 
rior degree.  The  greater  number  swallow  without  tasting  ;  and 
mastication,  which  constitutes  the  chief  ])leasure  in  eating,  is 
entirely  wanting  to  them.     As  their  horny  jaws  are  unprovided 


i 


XXVI 


INTRODUCTION. 


.,(" 


with  teeth,  the  food  undergoes  no  prejxiration  in  the  mouth, 
but  is  swallowed  in  unbruised  and  untasted  morsels.  Yet  then 
is  reason  to  believe  that  the  first  action  of  the  stomach,  or  it> 
preparatory  vcntriiiiliis,  affords  in  some  degree  the  ruminatiii.; 
gratification  of  taste,  as  after  swallowing  food,  in  some  insectiv- 
orous and  carnivorous  birds,  the  motion  of  the  mandibles,  ix 
actly  like  that  of  ordinary  tasting,  can  hardly  be  conceived  ti 
exist  without  conveying  some  degree  of  gratifying  sensation. 

Tile  clothing  of  birds  varies  with  the  habits  and  climates 
they  inhabit.  The  aquatic  tribes,  and  those  which  live  in 
northern  regions,  are  provided  with  an  abundance  of  plumage 
and  fine  down,  —  from  which  circumstance  often  we  ma\  form  a 
correct  judgment  of  their  natal  regions.  In  all  climates,  aqua- 
tic birds  are  almost  equally  feathered,  and  are  provided  witli 
l)osterior  glands  containing  an  oily  substance  for  anointing 
their  feathers,  which,  aided  by  their  thickness,  prevents  the 
admission  of  moisture  to  their  bodies.  These  glands  are  less 
conspicuous  in  land  birds,  —  unless,  like  the  fishing  Eagles,  their 
habits  be  to  plunge  in  the  water  in  pursuit  of  their  J^rey. 

The  general  structure  of  feathers  seems  purposely  adajned 
both  for  warmth  of  clothing  and  security  of  flight.  In  thc 
wings  of  all  birds  which  fly,  the  webs  composing  the  vanes,  or 
plumy  sides  of  the  feather,  mutually  interlock  by  means  of  reg- 
ular rows  of  slender,  hair-like  teeth,  so  that  the  feather,  except 
at  and  towards  its  base,  serves  as  a  complete  and  close  scnen 
from  the  weather  on  the  one  hand,  and  as  an  impermeable  oar 
on  the  other,  when  situated  in  the  wing,  and  reciuired  to  cateh 
and  retain  the  in-.])ulse  of  the  air.  In  the  birds  which  do  not 
fly,  and  inhabit  warm  climates,  the  feathers  are  few  and  lliin, 
and  their  lateral  webs  are  usually  separate,  as  in  the  Ostrii  1: 
Cassowary.  Emu.  and  extinct  Dodo.  In  some  cases  featlu:- 
seem  to  jiass  into  the  hairs,  which  ordinarily  clothe  the  quadni 
peds,  as  in  the  Cassowary,  and  others;  antl  the  base  of  thi 
bill  in  many  birds  is  usually  surrounded  with  these  capillar) 
plumes. 

The  greater  number  of  birds  cast  their  feathers  annually,  riii'l 
appear  to  suffer  much  more  from  it  than  the  quadrupeds  do 


from 
to  la 
or  ai 
the 
rem. 
and 
pi])er 
in  t 
who 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXVI I 


the  mouih, 
.  Yet  thtrc 
mach,  or  \b 
;  ruminatin.; 
me  insectiv- 
mdibles,  t-x- 

onceived  t> 
;ensation. 
.nd  climates 
hich  live  in 

of  plumage 
;  may  form  a 
nates,  aqua- 
rovided  witli 
)r  anointiiu' 
;)revents  tlu 
nids  are  less 
Eagles,  their 
prey. 

;ely  adapts; 
•ht.     In  ihc 

le  vanes,  or 
ans  of  rcg- 
ler.  exct']it 
lose  scrieii 

rmeable  oar 

red  to  catch 

lich  do  no: 
and  tliir., 

the  Ostrj.  '; 

ses  featlu:- 
he  qiuuhi: 

base  of  iIk 

se  capillar; 

mually,  :uv\ 
(lru])eds  do 


from  a  similar  change.  The  best-fed  fowl  ceases  at  this  time 
to  lay.  The  season  of  moulting  is  generally  the  end  of  summer 
or  autumn,  and  their  feathers  are  not  completely  restored  till 
tilt"  spring.  The  male  sometimes  undergoes,  as  we  have  already 
remarked,  an  additional  moult  towards  the  close  of  summer ; 
and  among  many  of  the  waders  and  web-footed  tribes,  as  Sand- 
pi])ers.  Plovers,  and  Ciulls,  both  sexes  experience  a  moult  twice 
in  the  year,  so  that  their  summer  and  winter  livery  appears 
wholly  different. 

The  stratagems  and  contrivances  instinctively  emplo\ed  by 
birds  for  their  support  and  protection  are  i)eculiarly  remark- 
able ;  in  this  way  those  which  are  weak  are  enabled  to  elude 
the  pursuit  of  the  strong  and  rapacious.  Some  are  e\en 
screened  from  the  attacks  of  their  enemies  by  an  arrangement 
of  colors  assimilated  to  the  places  which  they  most  frequent 
for  subsistence  and  repose  :  thus  the  \Vryneck  is  scarcel}-  to  be 
distinguished  from  the  tree  on  which  it  seeks  its  food  ;  or  the 
Snipe  from  the  soft  and  springy  ground  which  it  frecjuents. 
The  Great  Plover  finds  its  chief  security  in  stony  places,  to 
which  its  colors  are  so  nicely  adapted  that  the  most  exact 
observer  may  be  deceived.  The  same  resort  is  taken  advantage 
of  by  the  Night  Hawk,  Partridge,  Plover,  and  tlu'  American 
Quail,  the  young  brood  of  which  s(iuat  on  the  ground,  instinc- 
tively conscious  of  being  nearly  invisible,  from  their  close 
resemblance  to  the  broken  ground  on  which  they  lie,  and  trust 
to  this  natural  concealment.  The  same  kind  of  deceptive  and 
protecting  artifice  is  often  employetl  by  birds  to  conceal  or 
render  the  appearance  of  their  nests  ambiguous.  'I'luis  the 
European  Wren  forms  its  nest  externally  of  hay,  if  against 
a  hayrick ;  covered  with  lichens,  if  the  tree  chosen  is  so 
clad  ;  or  made  of  green  moss,  when  the  decayed  trunk  m  which 
it  is  built,  is  thus  covered  ;  ami  then,  wholly  closing  it  above, 
leaves  only  a  concealed  entry  in  the  side.  (Jur  liuiiiining- 
bird,  by  external  patches  of  lichen,  gives  her  nest  the  a])pea!- 
ance  of  a  moss-grown  knot.  \  similar  artifice  is  employed  by 
our  Yellow-breasted   I'lycatcher,  or  X'ireo,   and  other-,.      'I'he 


M 


XXVlll 


INTRODUCTION. 


„))« 


U 


ill!: 


Clolden-crowned  Thrusi.  {Sciunis  aiirocapillus)  makes  a  nest 
like  an  oven,  erecting  an  arch  over  it  so  perfectly  resem- 
bling the  lussuck  in  which  it  is  concealed  that  it  is  only  dis- 
coverable by  the  emotion  of  the  female  when  startled  from  its 
covert. 

The  liUtcher-bird  is  said  to  draw  around  him  his  feathered 
victims  by  treacherously  imitating  their  notes.  The  Kingfisher 
of  Europe  is  believed  to  allure  his  prey  by  displaying  tlie 
brilliancy  of  his  colors  as  he  sits  near  some  sequestered  pku  c 
on  the  margin  of  a  rivulet ;  the  fish,  attracted  by  the  splen- 
dor of  his  lluttering  and  expanded  wings,  are  detained  while 
the  wily  fisher  takes  an  unerring  aim.*  The  Erne,  and  our 
Dald  I'.agle,  gain  a  great  part  of  their  subsistence  by  watching 
the  success  of  the  Fish  Hawk,  and  robbing  him  of  his  finny  prey 
as  soon  as  it  is  caught.  In  the  same  way  also  the  rapacioih 
Burgomaster,  or  Glaucous  (lull  {Larits  i^/aiicus),  of  the  North 
levies  his  tribute  of  food  from  all  the  smaller  species  of  li^ 
race,  who,  knowmg  his  strength  and  ferocity,  are  seldom  inclincil 
to  dispute  iiis  piratical  claims.  Several  species  of  Cuckoo,  and 
the  Cow  1>ooi)ial  of  America,  habitually  deposit  their  eggs  in 
the  nests  of  other  small  birds,  to  whose  deceived  affection  nrc 
committed  the  ])reservation  and  rearing  of  the  parasitic  ami 
vagrant  brood.  The  instinctive  arts  of  birds  are  numerous; 
but  treachery,  like  that  which  obtains  in  these  ])anisitic  specit  ^, 
is  among  the  rarest  expedients  of  nature  in  the  feathered 
tribes,  though  not  uncommon  among  some  insect  families. 

The  art  (lisj)layed  by  birds  in  the  construction  of  their  tem- 
porary habitations,  or  nests,  is  also  deser\-ing  of  passim: 
attention.  Among  the  Gallinaceous  tribe,  including  our  l.iiid 
domestic  species,  as  well  as  the  acpiatic  and  wading  kiniN. 
scarcely  any  attempt  at  a  nest  is  made.  The  birds  which  swami 
along  the  sea-coast  often  deposit  their  eggs  on  the  bare  ground, 
sand,  or  slight  depressions  in  shelving  ro(ks  ;  governed  alone 
by  grosser  wants,  their  mutual  attachment  is  feeble  or  nugatorv, 
antl  neither  art  nor  instinct  prompts  attention  to  the  construe- 

1  The  britjht  feathers  of  this  bird  enter  often  successfully,  with  others,  into 
the  composition  of  the  most  attractive  artificial  flies  employed  by  anglers. 


INTRODUCTION. 


WIX 


kes  a  nest 
tly  resem- 
;  only  dis- 
ci from  its 

>  feathered 

Kingfisher 

laying    the 

;cred  place 

the  si)leii- 

lined  wliile 

e,  and   our 

y  watching 

5  finny  prey 

I  rapacious 

the  North 

■cies  of  hb 

jm  inclined 

iickoo.  and 

|Cir  eggs  in 

fection  nri' 

irasitic  ami 

numerous ; 

tic  species, 

feathered 

milies. 

their  tem- 

of   passiui; 

g  our  land 

iiig   kinds. 

lich  swarm 

re  ground. 

rned  aldiu- 

r  nugatory, 

i  construe- 

1   others,  into 
Ici's. 


tion  of  a  nest,  —  the  less  necessary,  indeed,  as  the  young  run  or 
take  to  the  water  as  soon  as  hatched,  and  early  release  them- 
selves from  parental  deijendence.  The  habits  of  the  other  acpia- 
tic  birds  are  not  very  dissimilar  to  these  ;  yet  it  is  singular  to 
remark  that  while  ourconnnon  (leese  anil  Ducks,  like  domestic 
Fcjwls,  have  no  permanent  selective  alta(  hment  for  their  mates, 
the  Canadian  Wild  (loose,  the  l^ider  I  )uck,  and  some  others, 
are  constantly  and  faithfully  paired  through  the  season;  so 
that  this  neglect  of  accommodatitin  for  the  young  in  the  fabri- 
cation of  an  artificial  nest,  common  to  these  with  the  rest  of 
their  tribe,  has  less  connection  with  the  recjuisition  of  mutual 
aid  than  with  the  hardy  and  precocious  habits  of  these  unmusi- 
cal, coarse,  and  retiring  birils.  It  is  true  that  some  of  them 
show  considerable  address,  if  little  of  art,  in  providing  security 
for  their  young;  in  this  way  some  of  the  Razor-bills  (including 
the  Common  I'uffin)  do  not  trust  the  exposure  of  their  eggs, 
like  the  Culls,  who  rather  rely  on  the  solitude  of  their  retreat, 
than  art  in  its  defence  ;  but  with  considerable  labor  some  of 
the  .\lcas  form  a  deep  burrow  for  tiie  security  of  their  brood. 

Uirds  of  the  same  genus  differ  much  in  tiieir  modes  of  nidi- 
fication.  Thus  the  Martin  makes  a  nest  within  a  rough-cast 
ram])art  of  mud,  and  enters  by  a  tlat  t)]iening  in  the  upper 
edge.  The  Cliff  Swallow  of  llonaparte  conceals  its  warm  and 
feathered  nest  in  a  receptacle  of  agglutinated  mud  resembling 
a  narrow-necked  purse  or  retort.  Another  species,  in  the 
Indian  seas,  forms  a  small  re(e])tacle  for  its  young  entirely 
of  interlaced  gelatinous  fibres,  [)rovided  by  the  mouth  and 
Stoma(di  ;  these  nests,  stuck  in  (lusters  against  the  rocks,  are 
collected  by  the  Chinese,  and  ])oiled  and  eaten  in  soujjs  as 
the  rarest  delicacy.  'J"he  Hank  Martin,  like  the  Kingfisher, 
burrows  deep  into  the  friable  banks  of  rivers  to  secure  a  de- 
pository for  its  scantily  feathered  nest.  The  C'hinmey  Swallow, 
originally  an  inhabitant  of  hollow  trees,  builds  in  empty  (diim- 
neys  a  bare  nest  of  agglutinated  twigs.  The  Woodpecker, 
Nuthatch,  Titmouse,  and  our  rural  Hluebird,  secure  their 
yoimg  in  hollow  trees ;  and  the  first  often  gotige  and  dig 
through  the  solid  wood  with  the  success  and  industry  of  car- 


XXX 


INTRODUCTION'. 


'  M 


\M 


pentcrs,  and  without  the  aid  of  any  other  chisel  than  thtir 
wedged  bills. 

Hut  the  most  consummate  ingenuity  of  ornithal  architecture 
is  displayed  by  the  smaller  and  more  social  tribes  of  birds,  who, 
in  proi)ortion  to  their  natural  enemies,  foreseen  by  Nature,  arc 
provided  with  the  means  of  instinctive  defence.  In  this  labor 
both  sexes  generally  unite,  and  are  sometinu^s  occupied  a  week 
or  more  in  completing  this  temporary  habitation  for  their 
young.  We  can  only  glance  at  a  few  examples,  chiefly  domes- 
tic ;  since  to  give  anything  like  a  general  view  of  this  subject 
of  the  architecture  emi)loyed  by  birds  would  far  exceed  thi; 
narrow  limits  we  prescribe.  And  here  we  may  remark  that, 
after  migration,  there  is  no  more  certain  display  of  the  reveries 
of  instinct  than  what  presides  over  this  interesting  and  neces- 
sary labor  of  the  species.  And  yet  so  nice  are  the  gradations 
betwixt  this  innate  propensity  and  the  dawnings  of  reason  tli.it 
it  is  not  always  easy  to  decide  upon  the  characteristics  ot 
one  as  distini:t  from  the  other.  Pure  and  undeviating  in- 
stincts are  perhaps  wholly  confined  to  the  invertebral  class  of 
animals. 

In  resjject  to  the  habits  of  birds,  we  well  know  that,  like 
quadrupeds,  they  possess,  though  in  a  Ijwer  degree,  the  capa- 
city for  a  certain  measure  of  what  may  be  termed  education, 
or  the  power  of  adding  to  their  stock  of  invariable  habits  the 
additional  traits  of  an  inferior  degree  of  reason.  'I'hus  in  those 
birds  who  have  discovered  (like  the  faithful  dog,  that  humble 
companion  of  man)  the  atlvantages  to  be  derived  from  asso- 
ciating round  his  premises,  the  regularity  of  their  instinctive 
habits  gives  way,  in  a  measure,  to  im])rovable  concej)tions.  In 
this  manner  our  C.olden  Robin  {Icknis  baltiinorc),  or  Fiery 
Hang  liird,  originally  only  a  native  of  the  wilderness  and  llie 
forest,  is  now  a  constant  summer  resident  in  the  vicinity  of 
villages  and  dwellings.  From  the  depending  boughs  of  our 
towering  elms,  and  other  spreading  trees,  like  the  Oriole  (jf 
]]uro))e,  and  the  Cassican  of  tro])ical  America,  he  weaves  Iiis 
pendulous  and  purse-like  nest  of  the  most  tenacious  and  dur- 
able materials  he  can  collect.     These  naturally  consist  of  liie 


INTKODUCriON. 


XXXI 


1  than  their 

architecture 
f  birds,  whu, 

Nature,  arc 
[n  this  labor 
pied  a  week 
n  for  their 
iefly  domcs- 

this  subject 

exceed  tlu: 
emark  that. 
the  reveries 
;  and  neces- 
i  gradations 

reason  tiiat 
cteristics  uf 
aviating  iii- 
)ral  class  of 

iv  that,  like 

;,  the  capa- 

.  education. 

'd  habits  the 

lus  in  those 

lat  humble 

from  asso- 

instincti\e 

nions.     In 

),  or  Fiery 

iss  and  tlio 

vicinity  of 

ghs  of  vwr 

;  Oriole  of 

weaves  his 

s  and  dur- 

sist  of  \hc 


Indian  hemp,  flax  of  the  silk-weed  {Asc/cpias  species),  and 
Other  tougii  and  fibrous  substances  ;  but  with  a  ready  ingenuity 
he  discovers  that  real  llax  and  hemp,  as  well  as  thread,  cotton, 
yarn,  and  even  hanks  of  silk,  or  small  strings,  and  horse  and 
cow  hair,  are  excellent  substitutes  for  his  original  domestic  ma- 
terials ;  and  in  order  to  be  convenient  to  these  accidental 
resources,  —  a  matter  of  some  importance  in  so  tedious  a  labor, 
—  he  has  left  the  wild  woods  of  his  ancestry,  and  conscious  of 
the  security  of  his  lofty  and  nearly  inaccessible  mansion,  has 
taken  up  his  welcome  abode  in  the  precincts  of  our  habitations. 
The  same  motives  of  convenience  and  comfort  have  had  their 
apparent  influence  on  many  more  of  our  almost  domestic 
feathered  tribes;  the  Hluebirds,  Wrens,  and  Swallows,  original 
inhabitants  of  the  woods,  are  now  no  less  familiar  than  our 
Pigeons.  The  Catbird  often  leaves  his  native  solitary  thickets 
for  the  convenience  and  refuge  of  the  garden,  and  watch- 
ing, occasionally,  the  motions  of  the  tenant,  answers  to  his 
whistle  with  com]ilacent  mimicry,  or  in  petulant  anger  scolds  at 
his  intrusion.  The  Common  Robin,  who  never  varies  his  simple 
and  coarse  architecture,  tormented  by  the  parasitic  Cuckoo 
or  the  noisy  Jay,  who  seek  at  times  tf)  rob  him  of  his  progeny, 
for  protection  has  been  known  fearlessly  to  build  his  nest 
within  a  few  yards  of  the  blacksmith's  anvil,  or  on  the  stern 
timbers  of  an  unfinished  vessel,  where  the  carpenters  were  still 
employed  in  their  noisy  labors.  That  sagacity  obtains  its  influ- 
ence over  unv.irying  instinct  in  these  and  many  other  familiar 
birds,  may  readily  be  conceived  when  we  observe  that  this 
venturous  association  with  man  vanishes  with  the  occasion 
which  required  it  ;  for  no  sooner  have  the  Oriole  and  Robin 
reared  their  young  than  their  natural  suspicion  and  shyness 
again  return. 

Deserts  and  solitudes  are  avoided  by  most  kinds  of  birds. 
In  an  extensive  country  of  unvarying  surface,  or  ]iossessing  but 
Kttle  variety  of  natural  productions,  and  ])articularly  where 
Streams  and  waters  are  scarce,  few  of  the  feathered  tribes  are 
to  be  found.  The  extensive  prairies  of  the  \\'est,  and  the 
gloomy  and  almost  interminable  forests  of  the  North,  as  well  as 

1 

•i 


XX,\U 


INTRODUCTION. 


„il" 


the  unibrai,'eous,  wild,  mikI  unpeopled  li.inks  of  the  Mississip|ii, 
and  other  of  the  hirtfer  rivers,  no  less  than  the  vast  pine-bar- 
rens of  the  Southern  States,  are  nearly  without  birds  as  i)enna- 
nent  residents.  In  crossinj.;  the  desolate  piny  glades  of  tlu 
South,  with  the  exception  of  Creepers,  Nuthatehes,  \V()(i(l 
peckers,  Pine  Warblers,  and  Hocks  of  Hitting  Larks  (S/z/n/c/An. 
scarcely  any  birds  are  to  be  seen  till  we  ai)proach  the  mean- 
ders of  some  stream,  or  the  precincts  of  a  plantation.  Tlu- 
food  of  birds  being  extremely  various,  they  conseciuently  con- 
gregate only  where  sustenance  is  to  be  obtained  ;  watery  situa- 
tions antl  a  diversified  vegetation  are  necessary  for  their  supijort. 
and  convenient  for  their  residence  ;  the  fruits  of  the  garden 
and  orchard,  the  swarms  of  insects  which  follow  the  i)rogress  of 
agriculture,  the  grain  which  we  cultivate,  —  in  short,  everything' 
which  contributes  to  our  luxuries  and  wants,  in  the  way  (ii 
subsistence,  no  less  than  the  recondite  and  tiny  enemies  which 
lessen  or  attack  these  various  resources,  all  conduce  to  tin 
su])i)ort  of  the  feathered  race,  which  conseciuently  seek  out  ami 
frequent  our  settlements  as  humble  and  useful  dependents. 

'Vhc  most  ingenious  and  labore(i  nest  of  all  the  North  Amer- 
ican bird.i  is  that  of  the  Orchard  Oriole,  or  Troopial.  It  is 
suspended,  or  jiensile,  like  that  of  the  Baltimore  Bird,  but,  with 
the  exception  of  hair,  constantly  constructed  of  native  mate- 
rials, the  ]irincipal  of  which  is  a  kind  of  tough  grass.  'I'hr 
blades  are  formed  into  a  sort  of  platted  ])urse  but  little  inferior 
to  a  coarse  straw  bonnet;  the  artificial  labor  bestowed  is  so 
apixarent  that  Wilson  humorously  adds,  on  his  showing  it  to  .■ 
matron  of  his  acquaintance,  betwixt  joke  and  earnest,  sIk 
asked  *'  if  he  thought  it  could  not  be  t;uight  to  darn  stoi  ly- 
ings."  Kvery  one  has  heard  of  the  Tailor  Uird  of  India  {Sr/rid 
siiforin)  :  this  little  architect,  by  way  of  saving  labor  and  gain- 
ing security  for  its  tiny  fabric,  sometimes  actually,  as  a  seam- 
stress, sews  together  the  edges  of  two  leaves  of  a  tree,  in  whi(h 
her  nest,  at  the  extremity  of  the  branch,  is  then  secured  for  the 
period  of  incul)ati()n.  Among  the  Sy/r/as,  or  Warblers,  thm.' 
is  a  species,  inhabiting  Florida  and  the  West  Indies,  the 
Sy/?'ia  /^ciisi/is,  which  forms  its  woven,  covered  nest  to  rock  in 


lings, 


INTUODL'CTIOX. 


xx\m 


i  Mississippi, 
1st  pine-l)ar- 
lis  as  perin;i- 
:Iades  of  tin 
:Ih's,   Wooil 

{Sfiiniti/ii). 
h  the  mean- 
tation.     '|"1k 
(piently  con- 
rt-atery  sitiia- 
hi'ir  su])p{)n. 
the  gankii 
I  progress  of 
t,  everythiiii; 
the  way  m 
emies  which 
rhice  to  the 
leek  out  and 
.■ndents. 
f.'orth  Anicr- 
ijpial.     It  is 
,  but,  with 
ive  mat*.- 
ass.     The 
If  inferior 
)\veil  is  so 
rt'ing  it  t(i  .1 
irnest,   she 
arn  stoi  k- 
lia  {Sx/;-ld 
and  gain- 
is  a  seani- 
;,  in  which 
red  for  the 
)k'rs,  there 
idies,    {\k 
to  rock  ill 


rd 

ati 

ttl 
t( 


the  air  at  the  end  of  two  suspending  strings,  rather  than  trust 
it  t(i  the  wily  enemies  by  which  it  is  surrounded  ;  the  entrance, 
for  security,  is  also  from  below,  and  through  a  winding  vestibule. 

Our  little  cheerful  and  almost  domestic  Wren  {Trc^i^/tn/v/is 
fulviis),  which  so  often  disputes  with  the  Martin  and  the  Blue- 
bird the  |)ossession  of  the  box  set  up  for  their  accommodation 
in  the  garden  or  near  the  house,  in  his  native  resort  of  a  hollow 
tree,  or  the  shed  of  some  neglected  out-house,  begins  his  fabric 
by  forming  a  barricade  of  crooked  interlacing  twigs,  —  a  kind 
of  clicrati\-di'-frisc,  —  for  the  defence  of  his  internal  ha])itation, 
leaving  merely  a  very  small  entrance  at  the  upper  edge.  The 
industry  of  this  little  bird,  and  his  affection  for  his  mate,  are 
SOmewh.it  remarkable,  as  he  frequently  completes  his  habita- 
tion without  aid,  and  then  searches  out  a  female  on  whom  to 
bestow  it  ;  but  not  being  always  successful,  or  the  premises  not 
satisfactory  to  his  mistress,  his  labor  remains  sometimes  with- 
out reward,  and  he  continues  to  warble  out  his  lay  in  solitude. 
The  same  gallant  habit  i)revails  also  with  our  recluse  Wren  of 
the  marshes.  Wilson's  Marsh  Wxcw  {Tro^^lodytcs  f'li/iisfris), 
instead  of  courting  the  advantages  of  a  proximity  to  our  dwel- 
lings, li\es  wholly  among  the  reed-fens,  suspending  his  mud- 
plastered  and  circularly  covered  nest  usually  to  the  stalks  of 
the  plant  he  so  much  affects,  .\nother  marsh  sjiecies  inhabits 
the  low  and  swampy  meadows  of  our  vicinity  {Tro'^lodxtcs  brc- 
virostris),  and  with  ready  address  constructs  its  globular  nest 
wholly  of  the  intertwined  sedge-grass  of  the  tussock  on  which 
it  is  built  ;  these  two  species  never  leave  their  sub.i(]uatic 
retreats  but  for  the  purpose  of  distant  migration,  and  avoid 
and  deprecate  in  angry  twitterings  every  sort  of  society  but 
their  t)wn. 

Among  the  most  extraordinary  habitations  of  birds,  illustra- 
tive of  their  instinctive  invention,  may  be  mentioned  that  of 
tile  Bengal  Grosbeak,  whose  pensile  nest,  suspended  from  the 
lofty  boughs  of  the  Indian  fig-tree,  is  fabricated  of  grass,  like 
cloth,  in  the  form  of  a  large  bottle,  with  the  entrance  down- 
wards ;  it  consists  also  of  two  or  three  chambers,  supposed  to 
be  occasionally  illuminated  by  the  fire- flies,  which,  however, 
vol..  I. — c 


9B 


XXXIV 


INTROnrCTION. 


mi' 


iir 


■\' 


only  constitute  a  part  of  the  food  it  probably  conveys  for  tlu' 
Mijiport  of  its  young,  liut  the  most  extraordinary  instinct  ni 
thii  kind  known,  is  exhibited  by  the  Social)le.  or  Kepubh(  ;m 
llrosbeak  (/%'rV7/.v  sorii/s,  ('r\  m:k),  of  the  ("ape  of  (lood  Hoiic, 
In  one  trei'.  a>  ( ording  to  Mr.  Paterson,  there  could  not  Iir 
fewer  than  from  eight  hundred  to  one  thousand  of  these  nests, 
covered  by  one  general  roof,  resembling  that  of  a  thatchid 
house,  and  ])roji'cting  over  the  entrance  of  the  nest.  'I'iu  ir 
couHuon  industry  almost  resembles  that  of  bees,  lleneath  thii 
roof  there  are  many  entrances,  each  of  which  forms,  as  it  werr, 
a  regular  street,  with  nests  on  either  side,  about  two  inches  i\\> 
tant  from  each  other.  The  material  which  they  employ  in  thi^ 
building  is  a  kind  of  fine  grass,  whose  seed,  also,  at  the  sanu' 
time  serves  them  for  food. 

That  birds,  besides  their  j^redilection  for  the  resorts  of  nun. 
are  also  capable  of  a])preciating  consequences  to  themsehc- 
and  yoimg,  scarcely  admits  the  shadow  of  a  doubt;  they  ;'R' 
capable  of  communicating  their  fears  and  nicely  calculating 
the  probability  of  danger  or  the  immunities  of  favor.  We  talk 
of  the  cunning  of  the  Fox  and  the  watchfulness  of  the  Weasel ; 
but  the  I'-agle,  TIawk,  RavcMi,  Crow,  I'ye,  and  Hlackbird  pos- 
sess those  traits  of  shrewdness  and  caution  which  would  seem 
to  arise  from  reflection  and  prudence.  They  well  know  thr 
powerful  weapons  and  wiles  of  civilized  man.  Without  hv'v.vi 
able  to  siiirl! pimnkr,  — a  vulgar  idea,  —  the  Crow  and  I'lackbinI 
at  once  suspect  the  character  of  the  fatal  gun  ;  they  will  alight  on 
the  backs  of  cattle  without  any  show  of  apprehension,  and  the 
I've  even  hojjs  upon  them  with  insulting  and  garrulous  playful- 
ness ;  but  he  (lies  instantly  from  his  human  enemy,  and  seems, 
by  his  deprecating  airs,  aware  of  the  proscri])tion  that  affect'^ 
his  existence.  A  man  on  horseback  or  in  a  carriage  is  much 
less  an  object  of  suspicion  to  those  wily  birds  than  when  alone : 
and  I  have  been  frecpicntly  both  amused  and  surprised,  in  the 
Southern  States,  by  the  sagacity  of  the  Common  lilackbirds  in 
starting  from  the  ploughing  field,  with  looks  of  alarm,  at  the 
sight  of  a  white  man,  as  distinct  from  and  more  dangerous  than 
the  black  slave,  whose  furrow  they  closely  anil  familiarly  fol- 


1 


INTRODUCTION. 


xwv 


•ys  for  tlu' 
nstinct  ni 
:  (.'public. Ill 

)Otl    H()|K, 

lid  not  111' 
lese  nests, 
I  thatchtil 
St.  Thrir 
■neath  tlii> 
as  it  wen , 
inches  di^ 
)loy  in  tlii> 
t  the  saiUL 

rts  of  nun. 
themselvi  - 
;  they  itc 
calculatin:: 
We  talk 
^e  Weasel : 
kbinl  jHis- 
)iil(l  seem 
kncnv  tlu' 
hout  beiim 
IJlackbin! 
aliifht  nil 
n,  and  the 
us  pla_\t"nl- 
nd  seems, 
lat  affects 
e  is  much 
len  alone ; 
led,  in  the 
Lckbirds  in 
rm,  at  the 
erous  than 
iliarly  fol- 


lowed, for  the  insect  food  it  afforded  them,  without  betraying 
any  appearance  of  distrust.  Need  we  any  further  proof  of 
the  capacity  for  change  of  disposition  than  that  \vhi(  h  has  so 
lon,LM)iie rated  upon  our  domestic  poultry?  —  *•  those  victims," 
as  ISiirfon  sligliiingly  remarks,  "which  are  multiplied  without 
trouble,  and  sacrificed  without  regret."  How  different  the  hab- 
its of  our  (loose  and  Duck  in  their  wild  ami  tame  coiiditiun  ! 
Instead  of  that  excessive  and  timid  cautiousness,  so  peculiar 
to  ilieir  savage  nature,  they  keep  company  with  the  domestic 
cattle,  and  hardly  shuffle  out  of  our  path.  Nay.  the  (iauder 
is  a  very  ban-dog,  —  noisy,  gabbling,  and  vociferous,  he  gives 
notice  of  the  stranger's  approach,  is  often  the  terror  of  the 
meddling  school-boy,  in  defence  of  his  fostered  brood;  and  it 
is  reported  of  antitiuily,  that  by  their  usual  garrulity  and  watch- 
fulness they  once  saved  the  R(jman  capitol.  Not  only  is  the 
disjjosition  of  these  birds  changed  by  domestication,  but  even 
their  strong  instinct  to  migration,  or  wandering  longings,  are 
wholly  annihilated.  Insteail  of  joining  the  airy  phalanx  which 
wing  their  way  to  distant  regions,  they  grovel  contented  in  the 
perpetual  abundance  attendant  on  their  willing  slavery.  If 
instinct  can  thus  be  destroyed  or  merged  in  artificial  circum- 
stances, need  we  wonder  that  this  ])rotecting  and  innate  intelli- 
gence is  capable  also  of  another  change  by  improvement, 
adapted  to  new  habits  and  uimatural  restraints?  I-'ven  without 
undergoing  the  slavery  of  domestication,  many  birds  become 
fully  sensible  of  immunities  and  protection  ;  and  in  the  same 
aquatic  and  rude  family  of  birds  already  mentioned  we  may 
quote  the  tame  habits  of  the  Kider  Ducks.  In  Iceland  and 
other  coimtries,  where  they  breed  in  such  numbers  as  to  render 
their  valuable  down  an  object  of  commerce,  they  are  forbidden 
to  be  killed  under  legal  penalty  ;  and  as  if  aware  of  this  legisla- 
tive security,  they  sit  on  their  eggs  undisturbed  at  the  approach 
of  man,  and  are  entirely  as  familiar,  during  this  season  of 
breeding,  as  our  tamed  Ducks.  Nor  are  they  a])parently  aware 
of  the  cheat  habitually  practised  ui)on  them  of  abstracting  the 
down  with  which  they  line  their  nests,  though  it  is  usually 
repeated  until  they  make  the  third  attempt  at  incubation.     If, 


1 


XX.W'l 


INTRUDUCTIUN. 


however,  the  last  nest,  with  its  eggs  and  down,  to  the  liniii. 
(jf  whicii  the  male  is  now  (jhliged  to  contribute,  be  taken  awav 
they  sagaciously  leave  tlie  premises,  without  return.  'I"he  [)\o\>. 
.Storks,  in  Holland,  protected  by  law  for  their  usefulness,  biiilr 
their  nests  on  the  tops  of  houses  and  churches,  often  in  tlv 
midst  of  cities,  in  boxes  i)reparetl  for  them,  like  those  for  or,: 
.Martins;  and,  walking  about  the  streets  and  gardens  witlio: 
api)rehen.sion  of  danger,  perlorm  the  usual  otifice  of  domesti 


jii 


That  birds,  like  our  more  sedentary  and  domestic  quadn; 
peds,  are  cajjable  of  e\hi])iling  attachment  to  those  who  fco 
and  attend  them,  is  undeniable.     Deprived  of  other  societv. 
some  of  our  more  intelligent  si)ecies,  particularly  the  Thrushcv 
soon  learn  to  seek  out  the  company  of  their  friends  or  proiec 
tors  of  the  human  species.     The  Brown  Thrush  and  Mockir. 
liird    become   in  this   way  extremely    familiar,   cheerful,  an. 
capriciously  playful ;  the  former,  in  particular,  courts  the  atten- 
tion (^f  his  master,  follows  his  steps,  complains  when  neglects: 
flies  to  him  when  suffered  to  be  at  large,  and  sings  and  repo^ 
gratefully  perched  on  his  hand,  —  m  short,  by  all  his  actions  li^ 
appears  capable   of  real  and  affectionate  attachment,  and  i 
jealous  of  every  rival,  particularly  any  other  bird,  which  h; 
persecutes  from  his  presence  with  unceasing  hatred.     His  pi: 
ulant  dislike  to  particular  objects  of  less  moment  is  also  di- 
played   by  various  tones  and   gestures,   which    soon    beconi: 
sufficiently  intelligible  to  those  who  are  near  him,  as  well  > 
his    notes  of  gratulation   and    satisfaction.     His    language  t 
fear  and  surprise  coukl  never  be  mistaken,  and  an  imitation  i 
his  guttural  low  /s/irrr,  tshcrr,  on  these  occasions,  answers  . 
a  premonitory  warning  when  any  danger  awaits  him  from  tl. 
sly  approach  of  cat  or  s(]uirrel.     As  I  have  now  descende<l,  J 
I  may  say,  to  the  actual  biography  of  one  of  these  birds,  whu 
I  raised  and  kept  uncaged  for  some  time,  I  may  also  add,  tli:: 
besides  a  playful  turn  for  mischief  and  interruption,  in  whit' 
he  would  sometimes  snatch  off  the  jiajier  on  which  I  was  wri: 
ing.  he  had  a  gootl  degree  of  curiosity,  and  was  much  surprise; 
one  day  by  a  large  springing  beetle  or  Elatcr  {E.  occllatmy 


I 


■■•!> 


INTRODUCTION. 


XX.Wll 


0  the  linin. 

taken  away 
,  'I'hc  pioi;- 
iilncss,  bulk 

oftcMi  in  th, 
hose  for  Ol- 
dens witho: 

of  domestic 

?stic  qiiadn; 
,)se  who  fee 
ither  society, 
he  'I'hrusiie-. 
lis  or  proiec 
^nd  Mockir. 
■heerful,  aiv. 
rts  the  attcn- 
jn  neglectci; 
i  and  re'pOM- 
lis  actions  Iv 
nent,  and  : 
d,  which  li: 
d.     His  ix;- 
is  also  di- 
oon    beconi: 
as  well  a- 
anguage  > 
imitaticMi  i 
answers 
im  from  ll: 
escended, .; 
birds,  whi' 
Iso  add,  th 
n.  in  whii 
1  I  was  wr;; 
ch  sur])iise'. 
occllafm 


11 


J 


Whi'h  I  had  caught  and  placed  in  a  tumbler.  On  al!  siudi 
Occasions  his  looks  of  (apricious  surprise  were  very  amusing  ;  he 
cautiously  approaclicd  tlie  glass  with  fanning  and  closing  wings, 
and  in  an  under-tone  confessed  his  surprise  at  the  address  and 
jumping  motion  of  the  huge  msect.  At  length  he  became 
bolder,  and  perceiving  it  had  a  relation  to  his  ordinary  prey  of 
beetles,  he,  with  some  hesitation,  ventured  to  snatch  at  the 
-prisoner  between  temerity  and  playfulness.  l>ut  when  really 
alarmed  or  offended,  he  instantly  (lew  to  his  loftiest  perch,  for- 
bid all  friendly  approaches,  and  for  some  time  kept  up  his  low 
and  angry  tshcrr.  My  late  friend,  the  venerable  William  IJar- 
tram.  was  also  much  amused  by  the  intelligence  disi)laye(l  by 
this  bird,  and  relates  that  one  which  he  kept,  being  fond  of 
hard  bread-crumbs,  found,  when  they  grated  his  throat,  a  very 
rational  remedy  in  softening  them,  by  soaking  in  his  vessel  of 
water ;  he  likewise,  by  exjjerience,  discovered  that  the  j^ainful 
prick  of  the  was])s  on  which  he  fed,  could  be  obviated  by  ex- 
tracting their  stings.  But  it  would  be  too  tedious  and  minute 
to  f)llow  out  these  g  'iimerings  of  hitelligence,  which  exist 
as  well  in  birds  as  in  our  most  sagacious  quadrupeds.  'I'he 
remarkable  talent  of  the  Parrot  for  imitating  the  tones  of  the 
human  voice  has  long  been  familiar.  The  most  extraordinary 
and  well  authenticated  account  of  the  actions  of  one  of  the 
common  ash-colored  species  is  that  of  a  bird  which  C'olonel . 
O'Kelly  bought  for  a  hmidred  guineas  at  Bristol.  Tliis  indi- 
vidual not  only  repeated  a  great  number  of  sentences,  but 
ansuH'irJ  many  (juestions,  and  was  able  to  whistle  a  variety  of 
tunes.  While  thus  engaged  it  beat  tmie  with  all  the  apjiear- 
ance  of  science,  and  possessed  a  judgment,  or  ear  so  accurate, 
that  if  by  chance  it  mistook  a  note,  it  would  revert  to  the  bar 
where  the  mistake  was  made,  correct  itself,  and  still  beating 
regular  time,  go  again  through  the  whole  with  i)crfect  exact- 
ness. So  celebrated  was  this  surprising  bird  that  an  obituary 
notice  of  Its  death  appeared  in  the  "(General  Evening  I'ost  " 
for  the  9th  of  October,  1S02.  In  this  account  it  is  added,  that 
besides  her  great  musical  faculties,  she  could  express  her  wants 
articulately,  and  give  her  orders  in  a  manner  aj-iproaching  to 


XXXVlll 


INTRODUCTIOX. 


„.ir 


I  iiii 


rationality.  She  was,  at  the  time  of  her  decease,  supposed  to 
be  more  than  thirty  years  of  age.  The  colonel  was  repeat- 
edly offered  five  hundred  guineas  a  year  for  the  bird,  bv 
persons  who  wished  to  make  a  public  exhibition  of  her ;  bii; 
out  of  tenderness  to  his  favorite  he  constantly  refused  tht 
offer. 

The  story  related  by  Goldsmith  of  a  parrot  belonging  ti 
King  Henry  the  Seventh,  is  very  amusing,  and  possibly  true.     I: 
was  kept  in  a  room  in  the  Palace  of  Westminster,  overlook  in: 
the  Thames,  and  had  naturally  enough  learned  a  store  of  boat 
men's  phrases ;  one  day,  sportmg  somewhat  incautiously,  Poll 
fell  mto  the  river,  but  had  rationality  enough,  it   appears,  h 
make  a  profitable  use  of  the  words  she  had  learnec',,  and  a( 
cordingly   vociferated,   "  A  boat !  twenty  pounds  for  a  boat! 
This  welcome  sound   reaching  the  ears  of  a  waterman,  soo- 
brought    assistance    to    the    Parrot,  who    delivered    it   to   th: 
king,  with  a  request  to  be  paid  the  round  sum  so  readily  prom 
ised  by  the   bird  ;  but  his  Majesty,  dissatisfied  with  the  exor- 
bitant  demand,  agreed,  at  any  rate,  to   give   him   what   tl;; 
bird  should  now  award;  in  answer  to  which  reference,  I'o! 
shrewdly  cried,  "  Clive  the  knave  a  groat  !  " 

The  story  given  by  Locke,  in  his  "  Essay  on  the  Huiiia: 
Understandmg,"  though  approaching  closely  to  rationaHty,  an- 
apparently  improbable,  may  not  be  a  greater  effort  than  coui 
have  been   accomplished   by  Colonel  O' Kelly's  bird.     Th; 
Parrot  had   attracted  the  attention  of  Prince  Maurice,  the: 
governor  of  IJrazil,  who  had  a  curiosity  to  witness  its  power- 
The  bird  was  introduced  into  the  room,  where  sat  the  prim 
in  company  with  several   1  )utchmen.     On  viewing  them,  t! 
Parrot  exclaimed,  m   Portuguese,  "  What  a   company  of  whit: 
men  are  here  !  "     Pointing  to  the  prince,  they  asked,  "  Who: 
that  man?"  to  which  the    Parrot   replies.  "  Some   general  o: 
other."     The   prince   now  asked,  "  i'rom  what  place  do  y 
come?"     The  answer  was,  "  I'rom   Marignan."     "To  whc: 
do  you  belong?"   It  answered,  "  To  a  Portuguese."     "  A\lr 
do  you  do  there?"  To  which  the  Parrot  replied,  "  I  look  it; 
chickens  !  "     The  prince,  now  laughing,  exclaimed,  "  Vcw  loi- 


INTRODUCTION'. 


XXXIX 


supposed  to 
was  repeat- 
the  bird,  bv 
of  her ;  bu; 
refused  the 


)elonging  tc 
bly  true.  I: 
overlookinc 
tore  of  boat 
utiously,  l'o[ 
appears,  i 
nec'.,  and  at 
for  a  boat ! 
:erman,  soor 
d  it  to  the 
eadily  prom 
th  the  exor- 
in  what  tli: 
ference,  Vo\ 

the  Humn: 
ionahty,  aii' 
t  than  cou'l 
bird.     Thi^ 
aurice,  the: 
s  its  power- 
it  the  priiK- 
g  them,  th: 
uiy  of  whit: 
d,  "Who;- 
general  c: 
ace  do  V"- 
"To  whii: 

."    "  ^\■h 

I  look  lit 

"  Vou  lot  :■ 


after  chickens  !  "  To  which  Poll  pertinently  answered,  "  Yes, 
/,  —  and  I  know  well  v.iiough  how  to  do  it ;"  clucking  at  the 
same  instant  in  the  manner  of  a  calling  brood-hen. 

The  docility  of  birds  in  catching  and  expressing  sounds 
depends,  of  course,  upon  the  perfection  of  their  voice  and 
hearing,  —  assisted  also  by  no  inconsiderable  power  of  memory. 
The  imitative  actions  and  jjassiveness  of  some  small  birds,  such 
as  (Joldfinches,  Linnets,  and  Canaries,  are,  however,  (piite  as 
curious  as  their  expression  of  sounds.  A  Sieur  Roman  exhib- 
ited in  I'Jii^land  some  of  these  birds,  one  of  which  simulated 
death,  and  was  held  up  by  the  tail  or  claw  without  showing  any 
active  signs  of  life.  A  second  balanced  itself  on  the  head, 
with  its  claws  in  the  air.  A  third  imitated  a  milkmaid  going  to 
market,  with  pails  on  its  shoulders.  A  fourth  mimicked  a 
Venetian  girl  looking  out  at  a  window.  A  fifth  acted  the 
soldier,  and  mounted  guard  as  a  sentinel.  The  sixth  was  a 
cannonier,  with  a  caj)  on  its  head,  a  lirelock  on  its  shoulder, 
and  with  a  match  in  Us  claw  discharged  a  small  cannon.  The 
same  birtl  also  acted  as  if  wounded,  was  wheeled  in  a  little 
barrow,  as  it  were  to  the  hospital ;  after  which  it  flew  away 
before  the  company.  The  seventh  turned  a  kind  of  windmill ; 
and  the  last  bird  stood  amidst  a  discharge  of  small  fireworks, 
without  showing  any  sign  of  fear. 

A  similar  exhibition,  in  which  twenty-four  Canary  birds 
were  the  actors,  was  also  shown  in  London  in  1S20,  by  a 
Frenchman  named  Dujon ;  one  of  these  suffered  itself  to  be 
shot  at,  and  foiling  down,  as  if  dead,  was  put  into  a  little 
wheelbarrow  and  conveyed  away  by  one  of  its  comrades. 

The  docility  of  the  Canary  and  (loldfinch  is  thus,  by  dint  of 
severe  education,  put  in  fair  competition  with  that  of  the  dog ; 
and  we  cannot  deny  to  the  feathered  creation  a  share  of  that 
kind  of  rational  intelligence  exhibited  by  some  of  our  sagacious 
quadrui)eds,  —  an  inci])ient  knowledge  of  cause  and  effect  far 
removed  from  the  unimprovable  and  unchangeable  destinies  of 
instinct.  Nature  probably  delights  less  in  producing  such 
animated  machin'  ^  than  we  are  apt  to  suppose ;  and  amidst 
the  mutability  of  circumstances  by  which  almost  every  animated 


ran 


\1 


INTRODUCTION. 


being  is  surrounded,  there  seems  to  be  a  frequent  flemand  for 
that  reheving  invention  denied  to  those  animals  which  are 
solely  governed  by  inflexible  instinct. 

The  veKjcity  with  which  birds  are  able  to  travel  in  their 
aerial  element  has  no  parallel  among  terrestrial  animals  ;  and 
this  powerful  capacity  for  progressive  motion  is  bestowed  in 
aid  of  their  peculiar  wants  and  instinctive  habits.  The  swiftest 
horse  may  ])erhaps  proceed  a  mile  in  something  less  than  two 
minutes  ;  but  such  exertion  is  unnatural,  and  quickly  fatal.  An 
Eagle,  whose  stretch  of  wing  exceeds  seven  feet,  with  ease  and 
majesty,  and  without  any  extraordinary  effort,  rises  out  of  sight 
in  less  than  three  minutes,  and  therefore  must  fly  more  than 
three  thousand  five  hundred  yards  in  a  minute,  or  at  the  rate 
of  sixty  miles  in  an  hour.  At  this  speed  a  bird  would  easily  per- 
form a  journey  of  six  hundred  miles  in  a  day,  since  ten  hours 
only  would  be  required,  which  would  allow  frec^uent  halts,  and 
the  whole  of  the  night  for  repose.  Swallows  and  other  migra- 
tory birds  might  therefore  pass  from  northern  Europe  to  the 
equator  in  seven  or  eight  days.  In  fact,  Adanson  saw,  on  the 
coast  of  Senegal,  Swallows  that  had  arrived  there  on  the  9th  of 
October,  or  eight  or  nine  days  after  their  departure  from  the 
colder  continent.  A  Canary  Falcon,  sent  to  the  Duke  of  Lerma, 
returned  in  sixteen  hours  from  Andalusia  to  the  island  of  Tene- 
riffe,  —  a  distance  of  seven  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  The  (lulls 
of  Barbadoes,  according  to  Sir  Hans  Sloane,  make  excursions  in 
flocks  to  the  distance  of  more  than  two  hundred  miles  after 
their  food,  and  then  return  the  same  day  to  their  rocky  roosts. 

If  we  allow  that  any  natural  powers  come  in  aid  of  the 
instinct  to  migration,  so  powerful  and  uniform  in  birds,  besides 
their  vast  capacity  for  motion,  it  must  be  in  the  perfection  and 
delicacy  of  their  vision,  of  which  we  have  such  striking  ex- 
amples in  the  rapacious  tribes.  It  is  possible  that  at  times 
they  may  be  directed  principally  by  atmospheric  phenomena 
alone ;  and  hence  we  find  that  their  appearance  is  frequently 
a  concomitant  of  the  approaching  season,  and  the  wild  Petrel 
of  the  ocean  is  not  the  only  harbinger  of  storm  and  coming 
change.     The  currents  of  the  air,  in  those  which  make  exten- 


sive voyages, 
scitsons,  wher 
or  departure 
That  birds  a 
journeys  fron^ 
fill  than   the 
master,  for  m 
steps.     It  is 
that  the  Passf 
to  the  i)lace 
in  an  open 
scenery.     M: 
great    valleys 
southern  or 
the  (."onnecti( 
the  Santee,  ai 
in  part,  the  le 
mysterious  a; 
those  of  all  01 
tiiiation  of  \r 
southern  part 
ico.  to  which 
they  were  ne 
liv  thousands 
of  autumn, 
adventurous 
tiNiirous  spec 
re;^'i()ns  of  tl 
ih  rough   Me 
';     merely  an  a 
■      number,  whc 
'      oeean-bounc 
ai;e   is   presi 
i     young  and 
;|     before  they 
^     tercd  island 
.1     our  little  vo 


-% 


INTRODUCTION. 


XI I 


sive  voyages,  are  sedulously  employed  ;  and  hence,  at  certain 
seasons,  when  they  are  usually  in  motion,  we  find  their  arrival 
or  departure  accelerated  by  a  fovorable  direction  of  the  winds. 
'i'hat  birds  also  should  be  able  to  derive  advantage  in  their 
journeys  from  the  acuteness  of  their  vision,  is  not  moie  wonder- 
ful than   the  capacity  of  a  dog  to  discover   the    path  of  his 
master,  for  many  miles  in  succession,  by  the  mere  scent  of  his 
steps.     It  is  said,  indeed,  in  corroboration  of  this  conjecture, 
that  the  Passenger,  or  Carrying  Pigeon,  is  not  certain  to  return 
to  the  place  from  whence  it  is  brought,  unless  it  be  conveyed 
in  an  open   wicker   basket  admitting  a  view  of  the    passing 
scenery.     Many  of  our  birds,  however,  follow  instinctively  the 
u'leat    valleys    and    river-courses,    which    tend    towards    their 
southern  or   warmer   destination;   thus   the   great   valleys   of 
the  Connecticut,  the  Hudson,  the  Delaware,  the  Susquehanna, 
the  Santee,  and  more  particularly  the  vast  Mississipi)i,  are  often, 
ill  [)art,  the  leading  routes  of  our  migrating  birds.     Put,  in  fact, 
mysterious  as  is  the  voyage  and  departure  of  our  birds,  like 
those  of  all  other  coimtries  where  they  remove  at  all,  the  des- 
tination of  many  is  rendered  certain,  as  soon  as  we  visit  the 
^ollthern  i)arts  of  the  Union,  or  the  adjoining  countries  of  Mex- 
i(i).  to  which  they  have  retired  for  the  winter;  for  now,  where 
the\-  were  nearly  or  wholly  unknown  in  siunmer,  they  throng 
liv  thousands,  and  flit  before  our  path  like  the  showering  leaves 
of  autumn.     It  is  curious  to  obsen-e  the  pertinacity  of  thisf" 
adventurous  instinct  in  those  more  truly  and  exclusively  insec-' 
tivorous  species  which  wholly  leave  us  for  the  mild  and  genial 
reL,aons  of  the  tropics.     Many  penetrate  to  their  destination 
through  Mexico  overland ;    to   these   the    whole    journey    is 
merely  an  amusing  and  varied  feast.      Put  to  a  much  smaller 
number,  who  keep  too  far  toward  the  sea-coast,  and  enter  the 
ocean-botmd  peninsula  of  Florida,  a  more  arduous  aerial  voy- 
age IS  presented  ;  the   wide   ocean  must  be  crossed,  by  the 
young  and  inexperienced  as  well  as  the  old  and  venturous, 
before  they  arrive  either  at  the  tropical  continent  or  its  scat- 
tered islands.      When  the  wind  proves   propitious,  however, 
our  little  voyagers  wing  their  unerring   way    like    prosperous 


xlii 


INTRODUCTION. 


fairies ;  but  baffled  by  storms  and  contrary  gales,  they  often 
suffer  from  want,  and  at  times,  like  the  Quails,  become  victims 
to  the  devouring  waves.  On  such  unfortunate  occasions  (as 
Mr.  Bullock  ^  witnessed  in  a  voyage  near  to  Vera  Cruz  late  in 
autumn),  the  famished  travellers  fomiliarly  crowd  the  decks  of 
the  vessel,  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  rest  and  a  scanty  meal 
preparatory  to  the  conclusion  of  their  unpropitious  flight. 

Superficial  observers,  substituting  their  own  ideas  for  facts, 
are  ready  to  conclude,  and  frequently  assert,  that  the  old  and 
young,  before  leaving,  assemble  together  for  mutual  departure  ; 
this  may  be  true  in  many  instances,  but  in  as  many  more  a 
different  arrangement  obtains.  The  young,  often  instinctively 
vagrant,  herd  together  in  separate  flocks  previous  to  their 
departure,  and  guided  alone  by  the  innate  monition  of  Nature, 
seek  neither  the  aid  nor  the  company  of  the  old  ;  consequently 
in  some  countries  flocks  of  young  of  particular  species  are  alone 
observed,  and  in  others,  fiir  distant,  we  recognize  the  old. 
From  parental  aid  the  juvenile  company  have  obtained  all  that 
Nature  intended  to  bestow,  —  existence  and  education ;  and 
they  are  now  thrown  upon  the  world  among  their  numerous 
companions,  with  no  other  necessary  guide  than  self-preserving 
instinct.  In  Europe  it  appears  that  these  bands  of  the  young 
always  affect  even  a  warmer  climate  than  the  old ;  the  aeration 
of  their  blood  not  being  yet  complete,  they  are  more  sensible 
to  the  rigors  of  cold.  The  season  of  the  year  has  also  its  effei  t 
on  the  movements  of  birds ;  thus  certain  species  proceed  to 
their  northern  destination  more  to  the  eastward  in  the  spring, 
and  return  from  it  to  the  south-westward  in  autumn. 

The  habitudes  and  extent  of  the  migrations  of  birds  admit 
of  considerable  variety.  Some  only  fly  before  the  inundating 
storms  of  winter,  and  return  with  the  first  dawn  of  spring  ; 
these  do  not  leave  the  continent,  and  only  migrate  in  quest  of 
food  when  it  actually  begins  to  fail.  Among  these  may  be 
named  our  common  Song  Sparrow,  Chipping  Sparrow,  Blue 
bird,  Robin,  Pewee,  Cedar  Bird,  Blackbird,  Meadow  Lark,  and 
many  more.     Others  pass  into  warmer  climates  in  the  autumn, 

I  Travels  in  Mexico. 


after  rearmj 
J  that  their  cl 
which  it  offe 
(){ several  ki 
Albatros,  an 
The  grea 
species,  how 
prey,  —  Cro 
birds,  Swalk 
in  the  night 
Mycutchers, 
number  of 
nocturnal,  e 
where  they 
erfully  impe 
they  stop  nt 
cilkis,  Plovei 
untoward  ci 


•i 


I     of  l)irds,  wl 
$    their  route  c 


to  eat ;  yet 
by  day,  wha 
inquired,  wi' 
animals  are 
aid  of  recru: 
travel  that  i 
detained  in 
day  they  ai 
in  taking  nc 
ing  repose, 
ceasing  in  t 
and  when  tl 
IS  their  cus 
for  ^acilitati 
journey,  stil 
while  trave 
can  subsist 


*^ 


INTRODUCTION. 


xliii 


;it'ter  rearing  their  young.  Some  are  so  given  to  wandering 
that  their  choice  of  a  country  is  only  regulated  by  the  resources 
which  it  offers  for  subsistence  ;  such  are  the  Pigeons,  Herons 
i)f  several  kinds,  Snipes,  wild  Geese  and  Ducks,  the  wandering 
Albatros,  and  Waxen  Chatterer. 

The  greater  number  of  birds  travel  in  the  night ;  some 
specie's,  however,  proceed  only  by  day,  as  the  diurnal  birds  of 
prey,  —  Crows,  Pies,  Wrens,  Creepers,  Cross-bills,  Larks,  Blue- 
birds, Swallows,  and  some  others.  Those  which  travel  wholly 
in  the  night  are  the  Owls,  Butcher  Birds,  Kingfishers,  Thrushes, 
llyciitchers,  Night  Hawks,  VV^hip-poor- wills,  and  also  a  great 
number  of  aquatic  birds,  whose  motions  are  also  principally 
nocturnal,  except  in  the  cold  and  desolate  northern  regions, 
where  they  usually  retire  to  breed.  Other  birds  are  so  pow- 
erfully impelled  by  this  governing  motive  to  migration  that 
they  stop  neither  day  nor  night ;  such  are  the  Herons,  Mota- 
cillas.  Plovers,  Swans,  Cranes,  Wild  Geese,  Storks,  etc.  \\'hen 
untoward  circumstances  render  haste  necessary,  certain  kinds 
of  birds,  which  ordinarily  travel  only  in  the  night,  continue 
their  route  during  the  day,  and  scarcely  allow  themselves  time 
to  eat ;  yet  the  singing-birds,  properly  so  called,  never  migrate 
by  day,  whatever  may  happen  to  them.  And  it  may  here  be 
inquired,  with  astonishment,  how  these  feeble  but  enthusiastic 
animals  are  able  to  pass  the  time,  thus  engaged,  without  the 
aid  of  recruiting  sleep  ?  But  so  powerful  is  this  necessity  for 
travel  that  its  incentive  breaks  out  equally  in  those  which  are 
detained  in  captivity,  —  so  much  so  that  although  during  the 
(lay  they  are  no  more  alert  than  usual,  and  only  occupied 
in  taking  nourishment,  at  the  approach  of  night,  far  from  seek- 
ing repose,  as  usual,  they  manifest  great  agitation,  sing  without 
ceasing  in  the  cage,  whether  the  apartment  is  lighted  or  not ; 
and  when  the  moon  shines,  they  appear  still  more  restless,  as  it 
IS  their  custom,  at  liberty,  to  seek  the  advantage  of  its  light 
for  facilitating  their  route.  Some  birds,  while  engaged  in  their 
journey,  still  find  means  to  live  without  halting,  —  the  Swallow, 
while  traversing  the  sea,  pursues  its  insect  ])rey ;  those  who 
I  in  subsist  on  fish  without  any  serious  effort,  feed  as  they  pass 


xHv 


INTRODUCTION. 


ii' 


''Mk 


or  graze  the  surface  of  the  deep.  If  the  Wren,  the  Creeper, 
and  the  'I'itniouse  rest  fcjr  an  instant  on  a  tree  to  snatch  a  hasty 
morsel,  in  the  next  they  are  on  the  wing,  to  fulfil  their  destina- 
tion. However  al)undant  may  be  the  nourishment  which 
presents  usdf  lo  supply  their  wants,  in  general,  birds  of  passage 
rarely  remain  more  than  two  da\s  together  in  a  place. 

The  cries  of  many  birds,  while  engaged  in  their  aerial  voy- 
age, are  such  as  are  only  heard  on  this  important  occasion,  ami 
appear  necessary  for  the  direction  of  those  which  fly  in  assem- 
bled ranks. 

During  these  migrations  it  has  been  observed  that  birds 
fly  (ordinarily  in  the  higher  regions  of  the  air,  except  when 
fogs  force  them  to  seek  a  lower  elevation.  This  habit  is 
particularly  jirevalent  with  Wild  Geese,  Storks,  Cranes,  ami 
Herons,  which  often  pass  at  such  a  height  as  to  be  scarcely 
distinguishable. 

We  shall  not  here  enter  into  any  detailed  description  of  the 
manner  in  which  each  species  conducts  its  migration,  but 
shall  content  ourselves  with  citing  the  single  remarkable  exam- 
ple of  the  motions  of  the  Cranes.  Of  all  migrating  birds,  these 
appear  to  be  endowed  with  the  greatest  share  of  foresight. 
They  never  undertake  the  journey  alone  ;  throughout  a  circle 
of  several  miles  they  appear  to  communicate  the  intention 
of  commencing  their  route.  Several  days  previous  to  their 
de])arture  they  call  ujoon  each  other  by  a  peculiar  cry,  as  if 
giving  warning  to  assemble  at  a  central  point ;  the  favorable 
moment  being  at  length  arrived,  they  betake  themselves  to 
flight,  and,  in  military  style,  fall  into  two  lines,  which,  uniting 
It  the  summit,  form  an  extended  angle  with  two  equal  sides. 
At  the  central  point  of  the  phalanx,  the  chief  takes  his  station, 
to  whom  the  whole  troop,  by  their  subordination,  appear  to 
have  pledged  their  obedience.  The  commander  has  not  only 
the  painful  task  of  breaking  the  ]xath  through  the  air,  but  he 
has  also  the  charge  of  watching  for  the  common  safety  ;  t(i 
avoid  the  attacks  of  birds  of  prey ;  to  range  the  two  lines  in  a 
circle  at  the  approach  of  a  tempest,  in  order  to  resist  with 
more  effect  the  squalls  which  menace  the  dispersion  of  the 


linear  rant 
(•(iinpniiy 
nourishniel 
liiiiction  oi 
A^  M)()n  ask 
till'  next  'n\ 
iiig  the  nij. 
\hv  loud  ci 
of  the  cluei 
Wild  C.eesi 
\(ivage  neal 
(■ail  of  the 
higher  regie 
pniof  of  th 
togs  in  the 
f    ^teal  along 
lower  i)ath 

The  dire 
nii:,'ration  o 
lull  to  be  ; 
accidents,  w 
suddenly  ch 
\erging  froi 
Lnid  or  islai 
who  conse(i 
at  variable  t 
i>lands  of  1 
wrcks,  the  ; 
luy.  And 
when  they 
course  whil 
whelming  si 
way  to  theii 
anii)le  mcar 
cautious  wr 
As  the  peri< 
chills  of  aut 


INTRODLCTIOX. 


xh 


a 

til 
he 


linear  ranks;  and,  lastly,  it  is  to  their  leader  that  the  fatigued 
i(iiii|Kinv  look  up  to  appoint  the  most  convenient  places  for 
nourishment  antl  repose.  Still,  im|)ortant  as  is  the  station  and 
riuiction  of  the  aerial  director,  its  existence  is  but  momentary. 
.\>  Mion  as  he  feels  sensible  of  fatigue,  he  cedes  his  place  U) 
the  lu'xt  in  the  file,  and  retires  himself  to  its  extremity.  Dur- 
inn  the  night  their  flight  is  attended  with  considerable  noise; 
ilu'  loud  cries  which  we  hear,  seen\  to  be  the  marching  orders 
of  the  chief,  answered  by  the  ranks  who  follow  his  commamls. 
W  ild  deese  and  several  kinds  of  Ducks  also  make  their  aerial 
voyage  nearly  in  the  same  manner  as  the  Cranes.  The  loud 
call  of  the  jxissing  (Jeese,  as  they  soar  securely  through  the 
higher  regions  of  the  air,  is  familiar  to  all ;  but  as  an  additional 
|itdiif  of  their  sagacity  and  caution,  we  may  remark  that  when 
I'ol;^  in  the  atmosphere  render  their  tlight  necessarily  hjw,  ihey 
^tcil  along  in  silence,  as  if  aware  of  the  danger  to  which  their 
lower  iiath  now  exjjoses  them. 

'ihe  direction  of  the  winds  is  of  great  miportance  to  the 
migration  of  birds,  not  only  as  an  assistance  when  fivorable, 
bill  to  be  avoided  when  contrary,  as  the  most  disastrous  of 
accidents,  when  they  are  traversing  the  ocean.  If  the  breeze 
suddenly  change,  the  aerial  voyagers  tack  to  meet  it,  and  di- 
verging from  their  original  course,  seek  the  asylum  of  some 
l.nvl  or  island,  as  is  the  case  very  fre(|uently  with  the  (Quails, 
who  consecjuently,  in  their  jjassage  across  the  Mediterranean, 
at  variable  times,  make  a  descent  in  immense  numbers  on  the 
islands  of  the  Archipelago,  where  they  wait,  sometimes  for 
weeks,  the  arrival  of  a  propitious  gale  to  terminate  their  jour- 
ney. And  hence  we  perceive  the  object  of  migrating  birds, 
when  they  alight  upon  a  vessel  at  sea  ;  it  has  fallen  in  their 
(ourse  while  seeking  refuge  from  a  baffling  breeze  or  over- 
whelming storm,  and  after  a  few  hours  of  rest  they  wing  their 
way  to  their  previous  destination.  That  Nature  has  provided 
ample  means  to  fulfil  the  wonderful  instinct  of  these  feeble  but 
cautious  wanderers,  appears  in  every  ])art  of  their  economy. 
As  the  period  approaches  for  their  general  departure,  and  the 
chills  of  autumn  are  felt,  their  bodies  begin  to  be  loaded  with 


xlvi 


INTKUDUCTION. 


cellular  matter,  and  at  no  season  of  the  year  are  the  true  birds 
of  passage  so  fat  as  at  the  ap])roach  of  their  migration.  The 
(lulls,  (!ranes,  and  Herons,  almost  proverbially  macilent,  are  at 
this  season  loaded  with  this  reservoir  of  nutriment,  which  is 
intended  to  administer  to  their  supjjort  through  their  arduous 
and  hazardous  voyage.  With  this  natural  jjrovision,  dormant 
animals  also  commence  their  long  and  dreary  sleep  through 
the  winter,  —  a  nutritious  resource  no  less  necessary  in  binls 
while  engagetl  in  fulfilling  the  powerful  and  waking  reveries  of 
instmct. 

But  if  the  act  of  migration  surprise  us  when  performed  by 
birds  of  active  power  of  wing,  it  is  still  more  remarkable  when 
undertaken  by  those  of  short  and  laborious  flight,  like  the 
Coots  and  Rails,  who,  in  fact,  perform  a  part  of  their  route  on 
foot.  The  (Ireat  Penguin  {A/ca  impetniis),  the  (luillemot,  and 
the  Divers,  even  make  their  voyage  chiefly  by  dint  of  swim- 
ming. The  young  1-oons  {^Colymhiis  ^laciahs^,  bred  in  inland 
pontls,  though  proverbially  lame  (and  hence  the  name  of  Loni, 
or  Loon),  without  recourse  to  their  wings,  which  are  at  this 
time  inefficient,  continue  their  route  from  pond  to  pond, 
floundering  over  the  intervening  land  by  night,  until  at  length 
they  gain  some  creek  of  the  sea,  and  finally  complete  their 
necessary  migration  by  water. 

I'jirds  of  passage,  both  in  the  old  and  new  continents,  arc 
observed  generally  to  migrate  southwest  in  autumn,  and  to 
pass  to  the  northeast  in  spring.  Parry,  however,  it  seems,  cb 
served  the  birds  of  Greenland  proceeil  to  the  southeast.  This 
apparent  aberration  from  the  usual  course  may  be  accounted 
for  by  considering  the  habits  of  these  aquatic  birds.  Intent  on 
food  and  shelter,  a  part,  bending  their  course  over  the  coM 
regions  of  Norway  and  Russia,  seek  the  shores  of  Europe  ; 
while  another  division,  ccjually  considerable,  proceeding  south- 
west, spread  themselves  over  the  interior  of  the  United  States 
and  the  coast  and  kingdom  of  Mexico. 

This  propensity  to  change  their  climate,  induced  by  what- 
ever cause,  is  not  confined  to  the  birds  of  temperate  regions ; 
it  likewise  exists  among  many  of  those  who  inhabit  the  tiopics. 


Aii'iatic 
ihr  line  oi 
thf  rivers, 
irara  and 
iiKiiiy  of  ih 
l";il  Cimpai 
like   the  ci 
ilia/il,  wht 
of  particuk 
W  a  suftic 
with  any  s 
The  Ion 
case  of  mai 
tion  to  the 
few  months 
sion  of  all  i 
Titmouse  o 
no  longer  t( 
mils  gener; 
ref[uired  to 
greater.     Ii 
vivacious   a: 
class.     Our 
necessarily  1 
wliirh  we  h: 
Ihe^e  exami 
years ;    Pigt 
tained  more 
halt  a  centu 
Ravens,  and 
in  the  unnal 
teen  or  rifte( 
this  remark; 
been  offeree 
purous  natti 
general  ossii 


INTRODUCTION. 


xlvii 


arc 


Aipiatic  birds  of  several  kinds,  according  to  Humboldt,  cross 
ihr  line  on  cither  side  about  the  time  of  the  periodical  rise  of 
the  livers.  Waterton,  likewise,  who  spent  much  time  in  Dem- 
rriri  ami  the  neighboring  countries,  observed  that  the  visits  of 
many  of  the  tropical  birds  were  periodical.  'J'hus  the  wonder- 
lal  L'ampanero,  whose  solemn  voice  is  heard  at  intervals  tolling 
like  the  convent-bell,  was  rare  to  Waterton,  but  fre(iuent  in 
r.ra/il,  where  it  most  probably  retires  to  breeil.  The  failure 
of  particular  food  at  any  season,  in  the  mildest  climate,  would 
be  a  sufficient  incentive  to  a  partial  and  overlantl  migration 
with  any  species  of  the  feathered  race. 

The  longevity  of  birds  is  various,  and,  different  from  the 
case  of  man  and  (juadrupeds,  seems  to  bear  but  little  propor- 
tion to  the  age  at  which  they  actjuire  maturity  of  character.  A 
{'^:\\'  months  seems  sufficient  to  bring  the  bird  into  full  posses- 
sion of  all  its  native  powers  ;  and  there  are  some,  as  our  Marsh 
Titmouse  or  Chickadee,  which,  in  fact,  as  soon  as  Hedged,  are 
no  longer  to  be  distinguished  from  thei»-  parents.  Land  ani- 
mals generally  live  six  or  seven  times  as  long  as  the  period 
rcfiuired  to  attain  maturity ;  but  in  birds  the  rate  is  ten  times 
greater.  In  proportion  to  their  siice,  they  are  also  far  more 
vivacious  and  long-lived  than  other  animals  of  the  superior 
class.  Our  knowledge  of  the  longevity  of  birds  is,  however, 
necessarily  limited  to  the  few  examples  of  domesticated  species 
which  we  have  been  able  to  support  through  life  :  the  result  of 
'Jicsc  examples  is,  that  our  domestic  Fowls  have  lived  twenty 
years ;  I'igeons  have  exceeded  that  period  ;  Parrots  have  at- 
tained more  than  thirty  years.  Geese  live  probably  more  than 
halt  a  century;  a  Pelican  has  lived  to  eighty  years;  and  Swans, 
Ra\cns,  and  Eagles  have  exceeded  a  century.  I'-ven  Linnets, 
ill  ilie  unnatural  restraints  of  the  cage,  have  survi\-e(l  for  four- 
teen or  fifteen  years,  and  Canaries  twenty-five.  To  account  for 
this  remarkable  tenacity  of  life,  nothing  very  satisfactory  has 
been  offered  ;  though  Ikiffon  is  of  oi)inion  that  the  soft  and 
porous  nature  of  their  bones  contributes  to  this  end.  as  the 
^'eiural  ossification  and  rigidity  of  the  system  perpetually  tends 
to  abridge  the  boundaries  of  life. 


xlviii 


IM'RUIJUCTIUN. 


In  a  f^fucral  way  it  may  he  ( oiij^KK-rcd  as  csseniial  for  the 
bird  to  liy  a^  il  is  tor  the  lish  to  swiiu  or  the  (iua(lrii|ic(l  in 
walk  ;  yel  in  all  these  tribes  there  are  exceptions  to  the  j,'enei.;l 
habits.  Ihiis  among  (luadrupeds  the  bats  lly,  the  seals  swim, 
and  the  beaver  and  otter  swim  better  than  tiiey  c:an  walk.  Sn 
also  among  birds,  tiie  Ostruh,  (lassowary,  and  so'  •hei>, 
incajjable  of  llying.  are  obliged  to  walk  ;  others,  as  th  ippei^, 
lly  and  swim  but  never  walk.  Some,  like  the  Swallows  and 
Mumming  liirds,  pass  their  time  chielly  on  the  wing.  A  fir 
greater  number  of  birds  live  on  the  water  than  of  iiuadrujjed^, 
for  of  the  latter  there  are  not  more  than  five  or  si.x  kinds  fur- 
nished with  webbed  or  oar-like  feet,  whereas  of  birds  with  this 
structure  there  are  several  hundred.  'I'he  lightness  of  thiir 
feathers  and  bones,  as  well  as  the  boat  like  form  of  their  bodies, 
contributes  greatly  to  facilitate  their  buoyancy  and  progress  in 
the  water,  and  their  feet  serve  as  oars  to  propel  them. 

Thus  in  whatever  way  we  view  the  feathered  tribes  whi(  h 
surround  us,  we  shall  find  much  both  to  annise  and  instru(  t. 
We  hearken  to  their  songs  with  renewed  delight,  as  t'-  arbiu- 
gers  and    associates    of  the   season  they  accompa  Vheir 

return,  after  a  long  absence,  is  hailed  with  gratitude  to  the 
Author  of  all  existence  ;  and  the  cheerless  solitude  of  inani- 
mate Nature  is,  by  their  presence,  attuned  to  life  and  harmony. 
Nor  do  they  alone  administer  to  the  amusement  and  luxury  of 
life  ;  faithful  aids  as  well  as  messengers  of  the  seasons,  they 
associate  round  our  tenements,  and  defend  the  various  produc- 
tions of  tlie  earth,  on  which  we  so  much  rely  for  subsistence, 
from  the  destructive  depredations  of  myriads  of  insects,  which, 
but  for  timely  riddance  by  unmnnbered  birds,  would  be  fcil- 
lowed  by  a  general  failure  and  famine.  I'ublic  economy  and 
utility,  then,  no  less  than  humanity,  plead  for  the  protection  of 
the  feathered  race  ;  and  the  wanton  destruction  of  birds,  so 
nseful,  beautiful,  and  amusing,  if  not  treated  as  such  by  law, 
ought  to  be  considered  as  a  crime  by  every  inoral,  feeling,  and 
reflecting  mind. 


11(11, 


ORNITHOLOGY 


or  iiiK 


UNITliD  STATES  AND  CANADA. 


bn 


1 11(1 
of 


Is,  so 
kuv, 
au(J 


I 


uhiic;  length 
■\ ;•'■/.     In  a  : 
'^-'v;-r,  2;   whi 

and  jjurplc ;  2. 

"lis  CO  1111 
'""li  N'orth  a 
•N'ortheastern 
si'^'n  ns  far  n 
from  some  Ic 
sturnis  which 

\< 'L.  r.  — 


■M 


TURKEY    VULTURE. 

TURKEY    nUZZARI). 
CaTHARTKS    Al-RA. 

''iiAR.  Brownish  black;  head  bare  of  feathers  and  Ijright  red;  bill 
".vliiic;  length  about  2  feet. 

■  Vrs/.     In  a  stump,  or  cavity  among  rocks,  without  additional  maici  ial. 

/;';;'.>,  2\  white,  or  with  a  tinge  of  green  or  yellow,  spotted  with  bruwn 
;iiul  purple;  2.75  X  i-QO. 

'I'his  common  Ttirkey-like  Vulture  is  found  abimdantly  in 
both  North  and  Soutli  America,  but  seems  wholly  to  avoid  the 
Northeastern  or  New  England  States,  a  straggler  being  sehloni 
seen  as  far  as  the  latitude  of  41°.  \\'hether  this  limit  arises 
from  some  local  antipathy,  their  dislike  of  the  cold  eastern 
storms  which  prevail  in  the  spring  till  the  time  they  usually 

V(U,.  f.  —  T 


BIRDS   OK   PKEV. 


f 


breed,  or  some  other  cause,  it  is  not  easily  assignable  ;  and  the 
foot  is  still  more  remarkable,  as  they  have  been  observed  in  the 
interior  by  Mr.  Say  as  far  as  I'embino,  in  the  49th  degnc 
of  north  latitiule,  by  Lewis  and  Clarke  near  the  Falls  of  iIk 
Oregon,  and  they  are  not  uncommon  throughout  that  territory. 
They  are,  however,  much  more  abundant  in  the  warmer  tliaii 
in  the  colder  regions,  and  are  found  beyond  the  e(iuator,  e\-rii 
as  far  or  farther  than  the  La  Plata.  All  the  West  Lidia  islan(!> 
are  inhabited  by  them,  as  well  as  the  tropical  continent,  wheri,-. 
•as  in  the  Southern  States  of  the  L^nion,  they  are  commonh 
protected  for  their  services  as  scavengers  of  carrion,  whi(  h 
would  ])rove  highly  deleterious  in  those  warm  and  humid  cli- 
mates. In  the  winter  they  generally  seek  out  warmth  and 
shelter,  hovering  often  like  grim  and  boding  spectres  in  the 
suburbs,  and  on  the  roofs  and  chimneys  of  the  houses,  around 
the  cities  of  the  Southern  States.  A  few  brave  the  winters  nf 
IVhiryland,  Delaware,  and  New  Jersey,  but  the  greater  part 
migrate  south  at  the  approach  of  cold  weather. 

I'he  I'urkey  Buzzard  has  not  been  known  to  breed  ncjrth  ot 
New  Jersey  in  any  of  the  Atlantic  States.  Here  they  seek  out 
the  swampy  solitudes,  and,  without  forming  any  nest,  de])osit 
two  eggs  in  the  stump  of  a  hollow  tree  or  log,  on  the  mere 
fragments  of  rotten  wood  with  which  it  is  ordinarily  strewed. 
Occasionally,  in  the  Southern  States,  they  have  been  known  to 
make  choice  of  the  ruined  chimney  of  a  deserted  house  for 
this  ])urpose.  The  eggs  are  larger  than  those  of  a  Turkey,  of 
a  yellowish  white,  irregularly  l)lotchetl  with  dark  brown  and 
blackish  spots,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end.  'I"he  male  often  at- 
tends while  the  female  is  sitting;  and  if  not  materially  dis- 
turbed, they  will  continue  to  occupy  the  same  place  for  several 
years  in  succession. 

The  young  are  covered  with  a  whitish  down,  and,  in  common 
with  the  habit  of  the  oUl  birds,  will  often  eject,  upon  those  who 
hai)pen  to  molest  them,  the  filthy  contents  of  their  stomachs. 

In  the  cities  of  the  South  they  ap|)ear  to  be  somewhat  grega- 
rious, and  as  if  aware  of  the  protection  uforded  them,  jirc- 
sent  themselves  often  in  the  streets,  and  particularly  near  the 


-hauibles 
,iits  ill 


'   iiu'stic 


'  K 


Mllid.St     (1 

hecse,  o 
iliL;L'.ition, 
lilt-  oppor 
11:!   themst 
i-i-  of  risi 
uf  attacki 
pi(  king  01 
(.rara  watc 
([es('ri])tion 
even  killet 
they  did   11 
|Mitri(l   seer 
upon  tlesh, 
.\t   night 
.-eliloni  in 
tunes  pass  1 
tiu-   suburb.^ 
(le.Mious  of 
('o\er  to  issi 
llie_\-  and  th^ 
ohserved  pe 
tecMe  rays, 
warmth  dire 
gaged  in  act! 
days,  even  r 


TURKEY   VULTURE. 


niv)n 

who 


lis. 


Ircu.i- 


^hambles.  They  also  watch  the  emptying  of  tlie  scavengers' 
carts  in  the  suburbs,  where,  in  company  with  tlie  still  more 
(iDinestic  I5lack  \'ultures,  they  search  out  their  favorite  morsels 
Miiidst  ilust,  filtli,  and  rubbish  of  all  descrijjtions.  JJils  of 
!  iiccsc,  of  meat,  fish,  or  anything  sufficiently  foetid,  and  easy  of 
(li^estion,  is  greedily  sought  aflcr,  and  eagerly  eyed.  When 
the  opportunity  offers  they  eat  with  gluttonous  voracity,  and 
iV.I  themselves  in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  sometimes  ineapa- 
b!i-  of  rising  from  the  gromid.  They  are  accused  at  times 
ut"  attacking  young  pigs  and  lambs,  beginning  their  assault  by 
pii  king  out  the  eyes.  Mr.  Waterton.  however,  while  at  1  )em- 
erara  watched  them  tor  hours  together  amidst  reptiles  of  all 
(lescrii)tions.  but  they  never  made  any  attack  upon  them.  He 
even  killed  lizards  and  frogs  and  put  them  in  their  way,  but 
ihev  did  not  appear  to  notice  them  until  they  attained  the 
|iiiiiid  scent.  So  that  a  more  harmless  animal,  living  at  all 
ii[ii>u  llesh,  is  not  in  existence,  than  the  Turkey  \'ulture. 

At  night  they  roost  in  the  neighboring  trees,  but,  I  believe, 
mIiIoiu  in  tlocks  like  the  Dlack  kind.  In  winter  they  some- 
times pass  the  night  in  numl^ers  on  the  roofs  of  the  houses  in 
the  subiu-bs  of  the  Southern  cities,  and  appear  parti'nilarly 
desirous  of  taking  advantage  c^  the  warmth  which  they  dis- 
cover to  issue  from  the  chimneys.  Here,  when  the  sun  shines, 
ihe\  and  their  black  relatives,  though  no  wise  social,  may  be 
uhM.rved  perched  in  these  conspicuous  ])laces  basking  in  the 
tceble  rays,  and  stretching  out  their  dark  wings  to  admit  the 
warmth  directly  to  their  chilled  bodies.  And  when  not  en- 
L;a;.,^;d  in  acts  of  necessity,  they  amuse  themselves  on  fine  clear 
(la\s,  even  at  the  coolest  season  of  the  year,  by  soaring,  in 
cumpanies,  slowly  and  majestically  into  the  higher  regions  of 
the  atmosphere  ;  rising  gently,  but  ra])idly,  in  vast  spiral  circles, 
ihey  sometimes  disa])i)ear  beyond  the  thinnest  clouds,  'i'liey 
practise  this  lofty  flight  i)articularly  before  the  commencement 
of  thunder-storms,  when,  elevated  above  the  war  of  elements, 
they  lloat  at  ease  in  the  ethereal  space  with  otitsiretched  wings, 
miking  no  other  a])parent  effort  than  the  light  balloon,  only 
now  ami  then  steadying  their  sailing  pinions  as  they  spread 


BIRDS   OF  PREY. 


them  to  the  fanning  breeze,  and  become  abandoned  to  its 
accidental  sports.  In  South  America,  according  to  Humboldt, 
they  soar  even  in  company  with  the  Condor  in  his  highest 
flights,  rising  above  the  summits  of  the  tropical  Andes. 

Examples  of  this  species  still  wander  occasionally  to  New  Eng- 
land and  to  (irand  Menan,  and  in  1S1S7  Mr.  Philip  Cox  reported 
the  capture  of  two  near  the  mouth  of  the  Miramichi  River,  on  thu 
CJulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  in  latitude  47°.  It  occurs  regularly  on  the 
St.  Clair  Flats,  in  Ontario. 

The  Vultures  are  not  classed  as  the  first  of  birds  by  the  systc- 
matists  01  the  present  day.  Now  the  singing-birds  —  the  Osciiics  -  - 
ar:j  considered  the  most  highly  developed,  and  of  these  the  Thrush 
family  is  given  highest  rank.  The  \'ultures  are  classed  as  the 
lowest  of  the  birds  of  prey ;  and  this  entire  order  has  been  moved 
down  below  the  Swifts  and  the  Woodpeckers. 


BLACK   VULTURE. 

CARRION   CROW. 
CaTHARISTA    AIKAIA. 

Char.  Dull  black;  head  dusky  and  partially  covered  above  with 
feathers.     Length  about  2  feet. 

Xcst.  On  the  grcHUul  screened  by  bushes,  or  in  a  stump.  (No  attempt 
is  made  to  build  a  nest  or  even  to  lay  a  cushiDU  for  the  eggs.) 

E^i^^^i^s.  1-3  (usually  2)  ;  bluish  white,  marked  with  several  shades  of 
brown;  3.10  x  2.05. 

This  smaller,  black,  and  truly  gregarious  species  of  Vulturi' 
in  the  United  States  appears  to  be  generally  confined  to  the 
Southern  States,  and  seems  to  be  most  numerous  and  familiar 
in  the  large  maritime  towns  of  North  and  Soutli  Carolina, 
CJeorgia,  and  Florida.  They  are  also  met  with  in  several  of 
the  "Western  States,  and  as  far  up  the  Ohio  as  Cincinnati.  In 
the  tropical  regions  of  America  they  are  also  very  common, 
and  extend  at  least  as  far  as  Chili.  Like  the  former  species, 
with  which  they  associate  only  at  meal-times,  they  are  tacitly 
allowed  a  public  protection  for  the  service  they  render  in  rid- 
ding the  earth  of  carrion  and  other  kinds  of  filth.     They  are 


much  m( 

iiig,  duri 

the  feebl 

niit  the 

becomes 

seen  bas 

as  well  a 

impurity 

the  limbs 

indolence 

'I'heir  i 

Turkey  1 

/ontally,  1 

vals.     At 

\\\  the  cit 

numbers  1 

i'owls,  ex 

order  to 

which  ma; 

\cry  regu 

some  of  tl 

the   case 

(having  b 

appeared 

butchers  f( 

surprised  t 


BLACK   VULTURE. 


5 


the 

liar 

na, 

()f 

In 

)n. 


much  more  familiar  in  the  towns  than  the  preceding,  delight- 
ing, (luring  winter,  to  remain  on  the  roofs  of  houses,  catching 
the  feeble  rays  of  the  sun,  and  stretching  out  their  wings  to  ad- 
mit the  warm  air  over  their  foetid  bodies.  When  the  weather 
becomes  unusually  chilly,  or  in  the  mornings,  they  may  be 
seen  basking  upon  the  chimneys  in  the  warm  smoke,  which, 
as  well  as  the  soot  itself,  can  add  no  additional  darkness  or 
impurity  to  such  filthy  and  melancholy  spectres.  Here,  or  on 
tlie  limbs  of  some  of  the  larger  trees,  they  remain  in  listless 
indolence  till  aroused  by  the  calls  of  hunger. 

Iheir  llight  is  neither  so  easy  nor  so  graceful  as  that  of  the 
Turkey  Ikizzard.  They  flap  their  wings  and  then  soar  hori- 
zontally, renewing  the  motion  of  their  pinions  at  short  inter- 
vals. At  times,  however,  they  rise  to  considerable  elevations. 
In  the  cities  of  Charleston  and  Savannah  they  are  to  be  seen  in 
ninnbers  walking  the  streets  with  all  the  fomiliarity  of  domestic 
i'owls,  examining  the  channels  and  accumulations  of  filth  in 
order  to  glean  up  the  offal  or  animal  matter  of  any  kind 
which  may  happen  to  be  thrown  out.  They  appeared  to  be 
\ery  regular  in  their  attendance  around  the  shambles,  and 
some  of  them  become  known  by  sight.  This  was  particularly 
the  case  with  an  old  veteran  who  hopped  upon  one  foot 
(having  by  some  accident  lost  the  other),  and  had  regularly 
appeared  round  the  shambles  to  claim  the  bounty  of  the 
butchers  for  about  twenty  years.  In  the  cotmtry,  where  I  have 
surprised  them  feeding  in  the  woods,  they  appearetl  rather  shy 
and  timorous,  watching  my  movements  alertly  like  Hawks  ; 
and  every  now  and  then  one  or  two  of  them,  as  they  sat  in 
the  high  boughs  of  a  neighboring  oak,  communicated  to  the 
rest,  as  I  slowly  approached,  a  low  bark  of  alarm,  or  wai/i^/i, 
something  like  the  suppressed  growl  of  a  puppy,  at  which  the 
whole  flock  by  degrees  deserted  the  dead  hog  uj^on  which 
they  happened  to  be  feeding.  Sometimes  they  will  collect 
together  about  one  carcase  to  the  number  of  two  hundred 
and  upwards ;  and  the  object,  whatever  it  may  be,  is  soon 
robed  in  living  mourning,  scarcely  anything  being  visible  but 
a  dense  mass  of  these   sable   scavengers,  who   may  often  be 


6  BIRDS   OF    I'RKV. 

seen  jealously  contending  with  each  other,  both  in  and  out  of 
the  carcast",  defiled  with  blood  and  filth,  holding  on  with  their 
feet,  hissing  and  clawing  each  other,  or  tearing  off  morsels  so 
as  to  fill  their  throats  nearly  to  choking,  and  occasionall) 
joined  by  growling  dogs,  —  the  whole  presenting  one  of  the 
most  sa\-age  and  disgusting  scenes  in  nature,  and  truly  worth) 
the  internal  bird  of  Prcjmetheus. 

Tliis  species  is  very  rarely  seen  north  of  the  Carolinas,  tiiougli 
a  few  examples  have  been  taken  in  New  England  and  at  Grand 
.Menan. 


ArDlllOX'S    CARAC  AKA. 

CAKACARA    KACiI.E.      KIX(i    Hl/ZARD. 
I'til.Vr.tiKlS    tlllKIW.W. 

Char.  General  color  brownish  black;  fore  ])art  of  back  and  breast 
l)arrc(l  with  while  ;  tail  white,  with  bars  of  black.     I.cnnth  2o\  (025  inches. 

A^rs/.     ( >n  a  low  tree  or  bush  ;  niaile  of  sticks  and  leaves. 

/■>;o-.  2-.\  fusiiailv  2)  :  brownisli  white  or  \)a]c  brown,  blotched  with 
deeper  brown  ;  2.30  X  t.75. 

This  ver)'  remarkable  and  fine  bird  was  first  met  with  by  Mr. 
Atidubon  near  St.  Augustine,  in  lOast  Idorida.  He  afterwards 
also  fotmd  it  on  Cialveston  Island,  in  Te.vas.  l*'rom  its  genera! 
habits  and  gracefiil,  swee])ing  ilight,  it  was  for  some  time  mis- 
taken for  a  Hawk.  Thotigh  common  in  many  parts  of  South 
America,  it  is  within  the  limits  of  the  United  Stales  merely  an 
accidental  visitor.  It  is  said,  however,  to  breed  in  Idorida,  in 
the  highest  liranches  of  tall  trees  in  the  pincd)arrens,  making 
a  rough  nest  of  sticks  like  a  ITawk.  In  'I"e\as  it  breeds,  accord- 
ing to  Audubon,  in  the  tops  of  l)iishes. 

Since  .\uttall  wrote,  the  Caracara  has  been  found  in  numbers 
in  parts  of  Florida,  and  it  is  not  uncommon  in  Texas,  southern 
Arizona,  and   Lower  California. 


,,;P 


Char.  Pre 
rlark  marking;* 
upper  niandibl 
inches. 


A'rsf. 
X1.25, 


Usua 
3-4; 


Char.    Prc\ 
;in(l  -pots;  son- 


WHITE   GYRFALCON. 

Fai.co  islam )IS. 

Cfiar.  Prevailing  color  white,  often  immaculate,  but  usuallv  with 
ilmk  markings.  Legs  partially  feathered.  A  sharp  tooth  mar  jjoint  of 
u|):«tr  mandible  ;  the  end  of  under  mandible  notched.  Length  21  to  24 
inclies. 

X.  sf.     Usually  on  a  cliff ;  roughly  made  of  siii.ks,  —  large  dry  twigs. 

AV-f-  3-4;  l^uff  or  brownish,  marked  with  reddish  brown;  2.25 
X  1.25. 


GRAY   GYRI  AI.CON. 
Fai.co  rustrioi.us. 

-'if  \R.     Prevailing  color  dull  gray,  with  whitish  and  slaty-blue  bands 
and  ~]u)ts;  sometimes  white  prevails;  thighs  usually  barretl 


8 


BIRDS  OF  TREY. 


GYRl'ALCON. 

Falco  rusticolus  gvrfalco. 

Char.  Upper  parts  dull  brownish  (dusky),  with  bars  of  bluish  gray, 
lower  parts  white,  or  mostly  white  marked  with  dusky  ;  thighs  heavily 
barred. 


BLACK   GYRFALCON. 

Falco  rusticolus  oi5Soi-etus. 

Char.     Prevailing  color  brownish  black;  usually  barred  with  lighter 
tints,  but  sometimes  the  bars  arc  indistinct. 

This  elegant  and  celebrated  Falcon  is  about  two  feet  in 
length  ;  the  female  two  or  three  inches  longer.  They  particu- 
larly abound  in  Iceland,  and  are  found  also  throughout  Siberia, 
and  the  North  of  Europe  as  far  as  Greenland;  Mr.  Hutchins, 
according  to  Pennant,  saw  them  commonly  about  Fort  Albany, 
at  Hudson's  Bay.  Occasionally  a  pair  is  also  seen  in  this 
vicinity  in  the  depth  of  winter.  They  brave  the  coldest  cli- 
mates, for  which  they  have  such  a  predilection  as  seldom  to 
leave  the  Arctic  regions  ;  the  younger  birds  are  commonly  seen 
in  the  North  of  Germany,  but  very  rarely  the  old,  which  arc 
readily  distinguished  by  the  superior  whiteness  of  their  plumage, 
which  augments  with  age,  and  by  the  increasing  narrowness 
of  the  transverse  stripes  that  ornament  the  upper  parts  of  the 
body.  The  finest  of  these  Falcons  were  caught  in  Iceland  b\' 
means  of  baited  nets.  The  l)ait  was  commonly  a  Ptarmigan, 
Pigeon,  or  common  Fowl ;  and  such  was  the  velocity  and 
power  of  his  pounce  that  he  commonly  severed  the  head 
from  the  baited  bird  as  nicely  as  if  it  had  been  done  by  a 
razor.  These  birds  were  reserved  for  the  kings  of  Denmark, 
and  from  thence  they  were  formerly  transported  into  Ger- 
many, and  even  Turkey  and  Persia.  The  taste  for  the  amuse- 
ment of  falconry  was  once  very  prevalent  throughout  Europe, 
and  continued  for  several  centuries ;  but  at  this  titne  it  has 
almost  wholly  subsided.  The  Tartars,  and  Asiatics  gener- 
ally, were  also  e([ually  addicted   to  this  amusement.     A  Sir 


DUCK  HAWK. 


Thomas  Monson,  no  later  than  the  reign  of  James  the  First, 
is  said  to  have  given  a  thousand  pounds  for  a  ( ast  of  Hawks. 

Next  to  the  Kagie,  this  bird  is  the  most  formidable,  active, 
and  intrepid,  and  was  held  in  the  highest  esteem  for  folconry. 
It  l)oldly  attacks  the  largest  of  birds ;  the  Swan,  Goose,  Stork, 
ilcron,  and  Crane  are  to  it  easy  victims.  In  its  native  regions 
It  lives  much  on  the  hare  and  Ptarmigan  ;  upon  these  it  darts 
with  astonishing  velocity,  and  often  seizes  its  prey  by  i)ouncing 
upon  it  almost  peri)endicularly.  It  breeds  in  the  cold  and 
desert  regions  where  it  usually  dwells,  fixing  its  nests  amidst 
the  most  \oity  and  inaccessible  rocks. 

Nuttall  treated  the  four  forms  as  one,  while  I  follow  the  A.  O.  U. 
in  sei)arating  them;  though  I  do  not  think  that  the  present  classifi- 
cation will  be  retained.  The  accessible  material  is  very  limited, 
hut  it  appears  to  indicate  that  there  is  but  one  species  with  two, 
or  possibly  three,  geographical  races.  The  nests  and  eggs  and 
the  habits  are  similar,  the  difference  being  entirely  that  of  plu- 
mage,—  the  prevalence  of  the  dark  or  white  color. 

Tlie  White  breeds  chiefly  in  North  (Greenland  and  along  the  bor- 
ders of  the  Arctic  Ocean  ;  the  (iray  breeds  in  South  Greenland  ;  '.he 
I51ack  is  restricted  to  Labrador;  and  the  habitat  oi  j^'r/h/co  is  given 
as  '-interior  of  Arctic  America  from  Hudsons  Bay  to  Alaska." 
Specimens  of  all  four  have  been  taken  south  of  latitude  45°,  and 
a  few  of  the  Black  have  been  taken,  in  winter,  as  far  south  as 
southern  New  England  and  New  York. 


)V 


NoTK.  —  A  few  examples  of  the  Prahue  Falcon  {Falco  mexi- 
camis)  have    accidentally   wandered    to  the    prairie   districts   of 

lUinois. 


.n<l 
:a.! 


rk,     \ 

er- 

se 


DUCK  HAWK. 

PEREGRINE  FALCON.    GREAT-FOOTED   HAWK. 

Falco  PEREGRINUS  ANATUM. 

Char,  Above,  bluish  ash  or  brownish  black,  the  edges  of  the  fcatliers 
paler ;  below,  ashy  or  dull  tawny,  with  bars  or  streaks  of  brownish ;  a 
black  patch  on  the  cheeks.  Pill  of  bluish  color,  and  toothed  and  notched, 
a-  in  all  true  Falcons;  cere  yellow.  Wing  long,  thin,  and  pointed. 
Length  17  to   19  inches. 


10 


IJIRDS   OF   I'KKY. 


.Vest,  On  tree  or  cliff;  a  loosely  ;irran}j;i.cl  platform  of  dry  sticks, 
someiinies  partially  liiiccl  witli  grass,  leaves,  or  moss. 

/^T-f-  "-4i  reddish  brown  —  sometimes  of  bright  tint  —  marked  witii 
dull  red  and  rich  brown  j  2.10  X  1.60. 

The  celebrated,  powerful,  and  i)rincely  Falcon  is  comniun 
both  to  the  continent  of  lairope  anil  Ainerica.  In  the  former 
they  are  chiefly  foiuid  in  mountainous  regions,  and  make  their 
nests  in  the  most  inaccessible  clefts  of  rocks,  and  very  rarely 
in  trees,  laying  3  or  4  eggs  of  a  reddish-yellow,  with  brown 
spots.  In  I'Airope  they  seldom  descend  to  the  phiins,  and 
avoid  marshy  countries.  The  period  of  incubation  lasts  but 
a  short  time,  and  commences  in  winter,  or  very  early  in  the 
spring,  so  that  the  yomig  acquire  their  full  growth  by  tiio 
middle  of  May.  They  are  supposed  to  breed  in  the  tall  trees 
of  the  desolate  cedar  swamps  in  New  Jersey.  Audubon,  how- 
ever, found  them  nesting  on  shelving  rocks  on  the  shores  of 
Labrador  and  Newfomidland,  laying  from  2  to  5  eggs  of  a 
rusty  yellowish  brown,  spotted  and  blotched  with  darker  tints 
of  the  same  color.  They  also  breed  on  shelving  rocks  in  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  where  Mr.  Townsend  obtained  a  specimen 
on  I>ig  Sandy  River  of  the  Colorado  of  the  West  in  the  month 
of  July.  When  the  young  have  attained  their  growth,  the 
parents  drive  them  from  their  haunts,  with  incessant  ami 
piercing  screams  and  complaints,  —  an  unnatural  propensity 
which  nothing  but  dire  necessity,  the  difficulty  of  accpiiring 
sustenance,  can  palliate. 

In  strength  and  temerity  the  Falcon  is  not  exceeded  by 
any  birti  of  its  si/.e.  He  soars  with  easy  and  graceful  motions  | 
amidst  the  clouds  or  clear  azure  of  the  sky;  from  this  lofty 
elevation  he  selects  his  victim  from  among  the  larger  birds,  — 
(Irouse,  Pheasants,  Pigeons,  Hucks,  or  (leese.  \Vithout  bein^ 
perceived,  he  swiftly  descends,  as  if  falling  from  the  clouds  in 
a  i)erpendicular  line,  and  carries  terror  and  destruction  into 
the  timid  ranks  of  his  prey.  Instead  of  flying  before  their 
relentless  enemy,  the  Partridge  and  Pheasant  run  and  closely 
hide  in  the  grass,  the  Pigeons  glance  aside  to  avoid  the  fatal 
blow  which  is  btit  too  sure  in  its  aim,  and  the  Water  Fowls  seek 


■m 

a  more  c 

f 

If  the  pr 

1 

Iiraring  it 

f 

uith    Ins 

iiiDlher    t 

,'iol)al)ly 

1 

The  Per 

'ml  I'xcept 

1 

Xewfoinidl 

^ 

is  a  wintei 

kiioun  to  1) 

X 

Xew  lai-la 

I'eniisylvan 

i 

in  \l\v  Jen 

*'IIAR.    Get 

the  f)lder  bird: 

nid  tail  streak 

white  ;  the  mi 

■n  feiiKdc  aboi 

111  liri:ist  and 

-V,,.7.     Usua 

lies  (if  dead  trc 

and  leaves. 

/■:-^s.   3-6; 

■ill  11  red  and  bi 

I  His  speci 
means  so  ab 
degrees  by 
ally  extendin; 
rearing  its  yo 
ol)ser\ed  by  .- 
tained  five  eg 
ing.  and  watc 
f'Ji-est,  and  fli( 


riGEOX   HAWK. 


I  I 


.1  nil  in-  certain  refuge  in  diving  beneath  their  yielding  element. 
It  the  prey  be  not  too  large,  the  l-aleon  mounts  into  the  air, 
hraring  ii  olT  in  iiis  talons,  and  then  alights  t(;  gorge  himself 
with  his  booty  at  leisure.  Sometimes  he  attacks  the  Kile, 
mother  fellow-plunderer,  either  in  wanton  insult,  or  more 
iiuhahly  to  rob  him  of  his  (juarry. 

I'lic  I'cregrino  is  very  generally  distributed  throughout  America, 
hut  excei)liiig  nii  tlie  Atlantic  coast  of  Labrador,  and  jjcssihlv  on 
Xewfoundland.  it  is  nowhere  common  in  this  faunal  province."  It 
is  a  winter  visitor  cliietly  in  Oliio  and  southern  Ontario,  but  it  is 
known  to  breed  on  isolated  clilTs  in  the  .\bu-itinie  Provinces  and  the 
New  bniiland  States,  and  it  is  said  tliat  nests  have  been  found  in 
pLiiusylvania  and  Maryland.  The  rei^ort  of  its  building  in  a  swamp 
ill  \'cw  Jersey  has  not  been  conlirmed. 


oiis 


PIGEON    HAWK. 

FaLCO   COLUMIURIUS. 

'  11  \u.  Generally  the  prevailing  color,  aliovc,  is  l)lackisli  brown,  thoiiL;Ii 
the  older  l)ircls  assnnic  a  dull  tint  aiijirnaching  bluish  gray;  wings,  back, 
anil  tail  streaked  and  barred  with  buffv  or  reddish  brown.  Tail  lipped  with 
white  ;  liie  middle  tail-feathers  in  male  with  four  bands  of  blackish,  and 
in  female  about  six  pale  liands.  liclow,  dull,  pale  reddish  brown,  lighter 
on  breast  and  throat.     Length  1 1  to  13  inches. 

.V,s/.  Usually  on  branches  of  trees,  though  found  sometimes  in  cavi- 
ties of  dead  trees  and  on  cliffs  ;  loosely  Iniilt  of  twigs,  and  lined  with  grass 
and  leaves. 

As';'-*''  3-6;  buffy  or  pale  reddish-brown  ground  color,  blotched  with 
(lull  red  and  brown  ;  1.30  x  1.55. 

I'lus  species  is  a  little  larger  than  the  following,  but  by  no 
means  so  abundant ;  though  met  with  in  latitude  forty-eight 
degrees  by  Long's  Northwestern  Kxpcdition,  and  occasion- 
ally extending  its  migrations  from  Texas  to  Hudson's  l»ay,  and 
rearing  its  young  in  the  interior  of  Canada.  Its  nest  was  also 
observed  by  Audubon  in  Labrador  in  the  low  fir-trees,  and  con- 
tained five  eggs,  laid  about  the  ist  of  June.  It  is  shy,  skulk- 
ing, and  watchful,  seldom  venturing  beyond  the  unreclaimed 
forest,  and  flies  rapidly,  but,  I  believe,  seldom  soars  or  hovers. 


12 


IlIRDS   Ol'    rRKV. 


Small  bin  is  and  mice  constitute  its  princijial  food  ;  and  a(  ■ 
cording  to  Wilson,  it  follows  often  in  the  rear  of  the  gregarious 
birds,  such  as  the  Hlackbirds  and  Reedbirds,  as  well  as  afUT 
the  llitting  flocks  of  I'igeons  and  Robins,  picking  up  the  strai^- 
glers,  the  weak  and  unguarded,  as  its  legitimate  prey.  Sonn- 
times,  when  shot  at  without  effect,  it  will  lly  in  circles  around 
the  gunner  and  utter  impatient  shrieks,  —  probably  in  ai)pri.- 
hension  for  the  safety  of  the  mate,  or  to  conununicate  a  t  iv 
of  alarm. 

The  Pigeon  Hawk  is  not  a  common  bird  in  Massachusetts,  tliouLih 
a  few  i)airs  breed  in  llic  State ;  and  it  has  been  found  in  summer  in 
Connecticut,  as  well  as  in  Illinois  and  Ohio,  though  Mcllwraith 
considers  it  a  migrant  only  in  southern  Ontario,  It  breeds  si);ir- 
ingly  in  tlie  nortliern  portions  of  New  England,  the  Maritime  iMov 
inces  of  Canada  and  north  to  the  lower  fur  countries,  and  iii  winlcr 
ranties  to  the  Southern  States. 


NoTK.  —  One  example  of  the  European  Meuli\  {Faho  n\i;iiliis) 
has  been  captured  off  the  coast  of  Greenland. 


Chak.  Ac 
bl.ul;  patch  < 
l>.ir> ;  tail  t.-xv 
t.uvnv.  Fen 
tail  tawiiv,  w: 

.\:,.-/.  'Usi 
tiinr^  ill  dose 

brown;  1.33 

I'his  beai 
luiiicipally 
particularly 
(■corgia,   Al 
the  remote 
nier  as  far 
IV.  Richarc 
'     ^'xer,  to 


lor 


mil 


TV 


■r  in 

aith 
iUar- 


I'nn 
'inter        | 


AMF.RICAN   S^ARR()^V    MAWK. 

FaI.CO    SI'AUVI'.RUS. 

('iiAK.  Adult  male  :  head  bluish  ash,  with  ictldish  patch  ou  crown,  and 
bl.nk  iKitch  on  sides  and  nape;  back  rufous;  \vinj;s  bluish  and  black  in 
b.n>  ;  tail  tawny,  with  black  band,  and  tipped  with  white  ;  below,  Iniftish  or 
tawiiv.  Female:  rufous  and  bl.ack,  more  streaked  than  the  male;  the 
tail  lawnv,  with  several  blackish  bars.     Length  lo  to  ii  inches. 

.\',.>7.  Usually  in  cavities  of  trees,  often  in  Woodpecker's  holes,  somc- 
tiiius  in  deserted  nest  of  a  Crow. 

>'VCV'''  5~7 ;  buftish,  occasionally  white,  blotched  with  dull  red  and 
linuvn;   1. 33  X  I- 12. 

This  beautiful  and  singularly  marked  bird  appears  to  reside 
principally  in  the  warmer  ])arts  of  the  United  States.  They  are 
particularly  abundant  in  the  winter  throughout  South  Carolina, 
Georgia,  Alabama,  and  Florida,  whither  they  assemble  from 
the  remote  interior  of  the  Northern  States,  wandering  in  sum- 
mer ;is  far  as  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  were  even  seen  by 
l'"-.  Richardson  in  the  remote  latitude  of  53^;  these  ap]:)car, 
i      lAcr,  to  be  only  stragglers,  nor  do  they  seem  at  all  to  visit 


H 


lilKDS    OF    l'Ri:V. 


I  4' 


the  maritime  districts  of  New  J'jigland.  As  they  were  seen  iu 
St.  Domingo,  by  \eillot,  abnndantly  in  April  and  May,  thu 
bree(hng-season,  we  may  naturally  conclude  that  this  species 
has  a  much  greater  predilection  for  the  warm  than  the  coM 
climates.  ( )n  the  south  side  of  the  ecjuator,  even  in  Cayenne 
and  Paraguay  they  are  still  found,  in  all  of  which  countriL> 
the\-   probably   breed. 

According  to  the  habits  of  this  tribe  of  rapacious  biiiK 
it  api)ears  that  the  nest  is  built  in  a  hollow,  shattered,  or 
decayed  tree  at  a  considerable  elevation. 

Its  motions  ajjpear  somewhat  capricious ;  it  occasionally 
hovers  with  beating  wings,  reconnoitring  for  prey,  and  soon 
impatirnll)-  darts  off  to  a  distance  to  renew  the  same  ma- 
ne eu\  re.  \n  the  winter,  however,  it  is  most  commonly  scm 
perched  on  some  dead  branch,  or  on  a  ])ole  or  stalk  in  the 
fields,  often  at  a  little  distance  t'rom  the  ground,  keeping  up  a 
fre(]uent  jerking  of  tb.e  t:i;l,  and  attentively  watching  for  some 
suc:h  humble  game  as  mice,  grassht)ppers,  (;r  lizards.  At  this 
time  it  is  likewise  so  fimiliar  as  to  enter  the  garden,  urchanl, 
or  premises  near  to  the  house,  and  shows  but  little  alarm  iiii 
being  approached.  It  is,  however,  by  no  means  deficient  m 
courage,  ami,  like  the  larger  l''alc()ns,  often  makes  a  fatal  and 
rapid  sweep  upon  Sparn)ws  or  those  small  birds  which  are  In 
accustomed  prey. 


Instead  of  hcinii  a  mere  straiiiiler  outside  the 


tlie  r lilted  States,  as  Xult; 

tl 


wanner  portions  nf 


ai.pe 


,irs  to  liave  considered  tills  F 


con.  It  is  (inite  common  throiiuhout  most  ol   tlie  continent,  rind  ii"t 


onlv   hreeds  m 


X 


ew 


and.  l)ut  winters  tliere.      It  breed;- 


alM, 


tliniU!,diout  Canada,  north  to  the  lower  fur  countries,  and  retires 
the  .Soutliern  .States  durlni"-  the  cold  weatlier. 


NoTic.  —  Tlie  Cir.Ax    Si'Akkow   Hawk  {Falco  sparverioidc^ 
has  l)cen  found  in   Florida:    and  two  exam])les    of   the  KlcsTKi 
{Faho  iinunciilns^  have  been  ca]itiire(l  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantii 
—  one  off   tlic  coast  of  (Greenland,  and  the  otlier  at   Nantask' 
Mass..  In  iShy. 


.>;t 


' ■% 


1 

'"ir\R.     D.-ir 

the  Imc-  ;    in   til 

■  V,  /.     On  ;i 

lined  with  iwin 

^ 

/^.-    2-5  ( 

1 

mure  ur  less  th 

1 

This  ancie 

f- 

•ind  teinperat 

Hi^  ;i1k)(1c  bv 

'Ii^'Mrt.  and  -i 

"1  .111  e\tcnsi\ 

anil  Micasion. 

or 


on 


.'ell 


lie 


11  a 


\\K 


lih 


iiii 


111 


ai-" 


C.OI.DKX    EAC.LE. 

A(jrii.A  (:Hins.\i':iiis. 

Thar.     Dark  hnnvn,  head  and  neck  tawny  brown  ;  kgs  fcathcrt.d  to 

tlu-  tMfs;  in  the  vminL;,  tail  whitisli,  witli  hioad  ttiininal  hand  of  Mack. 

.\'.  ,'.  ( )n  a  tree,  sometimes  on  a  liigh  clitf;  lun-cK  luiilt  of  dry  sti(_l<s, 
lined  witli  twills,  Ljrass,  moss,  leaves,  and  feathers. 

/•'v-  2-5  (usually  2);  dull  white  or  ])ale  hull',  spotted  and  Idoichcd 
mure  (jr  less  thickly  witli  reddish  brown  and  laxeiuKr ;  3.00  X  2.30. 

This  nncient  monarch  of  the  birds  is  found  in  all  the  cold 
anil  tfiniicratc  rc'-'ions  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  takii\u  tip 
hi-  abode  by  choice  in  the  i^reat  forests  and  ]ilains,  and  in  wild, 
ilesert,  and  'iiountainotis  regions,  llis  eyrv,  ( omnionl}'  formed 
lit  an  cxiensive  set  of  layers  of  large  sticks,  is  nearly  horizontal, 
and  occasionally  extended  between  some  roek  antl  adjoining 


( 


i6 


blKDS   OF    PREY. 


tree,  as  was  the  one  described  by  Willughby  in  the  Peak  of 
Derbyshire.  About  thirty  miles  inland  from  the  Mandan  Fort 
on  the  Missouri  1  once  had  occasion  to  observe  the  eyry  of 
this  noble  bird,  which  here  consisted  of  but  a  slender  lining  of 
sticks  conveyed  into  a  rocky  chasm  on  the  face  of  a  lofty  hill 
rising  out  of  the  grassy,  open  plain.  It  contained  one  young 
bird,  nearly  fledged,  and  almost  of  the  color  of  the  Oyrfalcoii. 
Xea'-  their  rocky  nests  they  are  seen  usually  in  pairs,  at  times 
majestically  soaring  to  a  vast  height  and  gazing  on  the  sun, 
towards  which  they  ascend  until  they  disa[)pear  from  view. 
From  this  sublime  elevation  they  often  select  their  devoted 
prev,  —  sometimes  a  kid  or  a  lamb  from  the  sjwrting  flock,  or 
the  timid  rabbit  or  hare  crouched  in  the  furrow  or  sheltered  in 
some  bush.  The  largest  birds  are  also  fre<iuently  their  victims; 
ami  in  extreme  want  they  will  not  refuse  to  join  with  the 
alarmed  \'ulture  in  his  cadaverous  repast.  After  this  gorging 
meal  the  F^agle  can,  if  necessary,  fast  for  several  days.  Thf 
precarious  nature  of  his  subsistence  and  the  violence  by  whii  h 
it  is  constantly  obtained  seem  to  produce  a  moral  effect  on 
the  disposition  of  this  rapacious  bird  :  though  in  pairs,  they  arc 
never  seen  associated  with  their  young;  their  offspring  >ire 
driven  forth  to  lead  the  same  unsocial,  wandering  life  as  tluir 
unfeeling  progenitors.  This  harsh  and  tyrannical  disiiositiou  is 
strongly  displayed  even  when  they  lead  a  life  of  restraint  aiiil 
confinement.  The  weaker  bird  is  never  willingly  suffered  to 
eat  a  single  morsel ;  and  though  he  may  cower  and  (juail  under 
the  blow  with  the  most  abject  submission,  the  same  sav;iL;c 
deportment  continues  towards  him  as  long  as  he  exists.  Tho>e 
wiiich  I  have  seen  in  confinement  freiiuently  uttered  ho.w-c 
and  stridulous  cries,  sometimes  almost  barkings,  accompanieil 
by  vaporous  breathings,  strongly  expressive  of  their  anient, 
unijuenchable,  and  savage  ajipetites.  Their  fire-darting  eye>, 
lowering  brows,  flat  foreheads,  restless  disposition,  and  terrific 
plaints,  together  with  their  powerful  natural  wea])ons,  seem  to 
assimilate  them  to  the  tiger  rather  than  the  timorous  bird.  \\i 
it  would  a]ii)ear  that  they  may  be  rendered  docile,  as  the  I'ar- 
tars    (according   to   Marco   Polo   in    1269)    were  said  to  train 


tins  spec 

other  kin 

of  the  l''a 

it>  streng 

three  yea: 

'I'his  bird 

count  of  i 

habits.     'I 

btaiidard  ; 

wa^  tablet] 

favorite   n: 

C'-teeni   fui 

tioii-,|y  thii 

I      venerated  , 

'      am!   the  c; 

head-dresst 

The  Ivig 

l!a\-  than  in 

tile  great  f 

from   the   fr 

wilderness  ; 

nor  obtain  a 

t')  the  mouil 

to  M'c  the  !■ 

it  «()uld  ;ip[ 

Stiles,  u-hile 

re.^^ioiis. 

•li'l".'  situatioi 

^'"innits  he  \ 

deur.     A  yoi 

state  of  df)nu 

hou-e\cT,  bee 

'"  ihe  month 

'i<-';iil  about 

•Utention,  — 

Were  gi\-en  to 

liis  meal,  and 

Vol..    I.  


GOLDEN   EAGLE. 


17 


H-ir 

aivl  ■ 
to  \ 

mini 
il<  lit. 

(.>\C-. 

■riifu 
\\\  i" 


this  species  to  the  chase  of  hares,  foxes,  wolves,  antelopes,  and 
,>tlKT  kinds  of  large  game,  in  which  it  displayed  all  the  docility 
,ii"  the  Falcon.  'l"he  longevity  of  the  Eagle  is  as  remarkable  as 
ii^  strength  ;  it  is  believed  to  subsist  for  a  century,  and  is  about 
three  years  in  gaining  its  complete  growth  and  fixetl  plumage. 
This  bird  was  held  in  high  estimation  by  the  ancients  on  ac- 
i;)iiiit  uf  its  extraordinary  magnitude,  courage,  and  sanguinary 
h  il.its.  The  Romans  chose  it  as  an  emblem  for  their  imperial 
-t.mdard  ;  and  from  its  aspiring  flight  and  majestic  soaring  it 
\\\i>  fabletl  to  hold  communication  with  heaven  and  to  be  the 
tmniie  messenger  of  Jove.  The  Tartars  have  a  particular 
i-ieem  for  the  feathers  of  the  tail,  with  which  they  supersti- 
tioiisly  think  to  plume  invincible  arrows.  It  is  no  less  the 
vtiKiated  ll'iir-Eai^/c  of  our  Northern  and  Western  aborigines; 
ail  1  the  caudal  feathers  are  extremely  valued  for  talismanic 
he  iil-dresscs  and  as  sacred  decorations  for  the  I'ipe  of  Peace. 

Tile  I'^agle  appears  to  be  more  abiuidant  around  Hudson's 
llav  tlian  in  the  United  States;  but  they  are  not  unfrequent  in 
the  ^reat  ])lains  of  the  Mississijipi  and  Missouri,  as  appears 
t'mm  the  frequent  use  of  the  feathers  by  the  natives.  The 
wiMerness  seems  their  favorite  resort,  and  they  neither  crave 
iKir  (il)tain  any  advantage  from  the  society  of  man.  Attached 
to  the  mountains  in  which  they  are  bred,  it  is  a  rare  occurrence 
to  see  the  ICagle  in  this  vicinity  ;  and,  as  with  some  other  birds, 
it  would  appear  that  the  young  only  are  fotind  in  the  Tnited 
States,  while  the  old  remain  in  I-abrador  and  the  northern 
reuioiis.  The  lofty  mountains  of  New  IIami)shire  afford  suit- 
ahle  situations  for  the  eyry  of  the  Ivagle,  over  whose  snow-clad 
siiiiiiiiits  he  is  seen  majestically  soaring  in  solitude  and  gran- 
deur. A  young  bird  from  this  region,  wliicli  I  have  seen  in  a 
state  (if  domesti'.aiion,  showed  considerable  docility.  He  liad, 
hdwever,  lieen  brought  up  from  the  nest,  in  which  he  was  found 
in  the  month  of  Augtist  ;  he  appeared  even  playful,  turning  his 
Iie;i(l  about  in  a  very  antic  manner,  as  if  desirous  to  attra<~t 
attention,  —  still,  his  glance  was  cpiick  and  fiery.  When  birds 
Weir  gi\en  to  him,  he  plumeil  them  very  clean  before  he  began 
his  meal,  and  picked  the  subject  to  a  perfect  skeleton. 

\OI..     1.    2 


1 8 


BIRDS   OF   I'REV. 


'Hie  ferocious  and  savage  nature  of  the  Eagle,  in  an  unn- 
clainied  state,  is  sometimes  displayed  in  a  remarkable  manner. 
A  peasant  attempted  to  rob  an  eyry  of  this  bird  situated  at  the 
Lake  of  Killarney  :  for  this  purpose  he  stripped  and  swam  o\  cr 
to  the  s])ot  in  the  absence  of  the  old  birds;  but  uii  iiis  return, 
while  yet  up  to  the  chin  in  water,  the  parents  arrived,  and 
missing  their  young,  instantly  fell  on  the  unfortunate  plundcnr 
and  killed  him  on  the  spot. 

There  are  several  well-authenticated  instances  of  their  carry- 
ing off  children  to  their  nests.  In  1737,  in  the  parish  of 
Norderhougs,  in  Norway,  a  boy  over  two  years  old,  on  his  w  ly 
from  the  cottage  to  his  parents,  at  work  in  the  fields  at  no  grrat 
distance,  fell  into  the  i)()unce  of  an  Ivagle,  who  flew  off  with 
the  child  in  their  sight,  and  was  seen  no  more.  Anderson,  in 
his  history  of  Iceland,  says  that  in  that  island  children  of  fonr 
or  five  years  of  age  have  occasionally  been  borne  away  liy 
Eagles  ;  and  Ray  relates  that  in  one  of  the  Orkneys  a  child  of 
a  year  old  was  seized  in  the  talons  of  this  feroc:ious  bird  niid 
carried  about  four  miles  to  its  nest,  but  the  mother,  knowing 
the  ]-)lace  of  the  eyry,  followed  the  bird,  and  recovered  her  child 
yet  unhurt. 

The  Common,  or  Ring-tailed  Eagle,  is  now  found  to  be  the 
young  of  the  Clolden  I',agle.  These  progressive  changes  have 
been  observed  by  Tcmminck  on  two  living  subjects  which  lie 
kept  for  several  years. 

The  Golden  Eagle  is  generally  considered  to  he  a  rare  bird  in 
New  England  and  Canada,  and,  indeed,  throughout  the  settled  dis- 
tricts L'VL'r\  where  :  tliovgh  examples  have  been  taken  the  continent 
over,  from  (Jrccnland  to  Mexico,  and  west  to  the  I'acitic. 


-.1 


'■"AR.  Adi 
i.^iil  white  afte 
\'"i!ii.t,':  clarke 
cniiiniii-  featlie 

I'^"gth3o  tc 
ami  arc  very  si 
•ire  cisily  distil 

•^  -'A    On  a 
'■'"''^  "II  a  cliff 
"Ki!  stems  anc 
aliiiin^r. 

a;..v.  3-3; 


(11.^- 
Iiunt 


BALD    EAGLK. 

WASHINGTON    EAGLE. 
HALIiEETUS    LKUCOCl'.l'l  I.\! ,US. 

•  iiAR.  Adult:  blackish  brown,  paler  on  niar,L;in  <if  feathers;  head  and 
tail  white  after  third  year;  bill  and  feet  ycllnw  ;  leL;s  bare  of  feathers. 
Vmiiii;:  darker  than  the  adult;  no  white  on  head  (ir  tail  (or  coneealeil  by 
oiiuiuu-  feathers);  bill  and  feet  brownisii. 

I.(  iigth  30  to  40  inches.  (The  young  are  larger  than  the  adult  birds, 
and  iiL'  very  similar  to  the  young  of  the  Golden  llagle,  though  the  latter 
are  i  asily  distinguished  by  their  feathered  legs.) 

.Visi.  On  a  high  tree,  usually  in  a  crotch,  seldom  on  a  dead  tree,  somc- 
tiims  on  a  cliff;  made  of  dry  sticks  looselv  arranged,  and  occasinnally 
unJ  stems  and  coarse  grass  are  added  ;  but  there  i-  r.uely  any  atlemi)t  at 
a  liiiini;. 

/. !/ .     a-3;  white  or  pale  buff;  2.90  X  2.::5 


20 


BIRDS   OF   I'REV. 


The  Washiiii^/on  7u.\i;/(:  —  It  is  to  the  indefatigable  Audu- 
bon that  we  owe  the  distinct  ncjte  and  description  of  this  noble 
Eagle,  which  first  drew  his  attention  while  voyaging  far  up  the 
^Mississippi,  in  the  month  of  February,  1814.  At  length  he  had 
the  satisfaction  of  discovering  its  eyry,  in  the  high  cliffs  of  Clreeii 
River,  in  Kentucky,  near  to  its  junction  with  the  Ohio  :  two 
young  were  discovered  loudly  hissing  from  a  fissure  in  the 
rocks,  on  the  approach  of  the  male,  from  whom  they  received 
a  fish.  The  female  now  also  came,  and  with  solicitous  alarm 
for  the  safety  of  her  young,  gave  a  loud  scream,  dropped  the 
food  she  had  brought,  and  hovering  over  the  molesting  part\, 
kept  up  a  growling  and  threatening  cry  by  way  of  intimidation  ; 
and  in  fact,  as  our  disappointed  naturalist  soon  discovered,  she 
from  this  time  forsook  the  spot,  and  found  means  to  convey 
away  her  young.  The  discoverer  considers  the  species  as  rare, 
—  indeed,  its  principal  residence  ajipears  to  be  in  the  northern 
parts  of  the  continent,  particularly  the  rocky  solitudes  around 
the  (ireat  Northwestern  Lakes,  where  it  can  at  all  times  col- 
lect its  finny  prey  and  rear  its  young  without  the  dread  of  man. 
In  the  winter  season,  about  January  and  February,  as  well  as  at 
a  later  period  of  the  s})ring,  these  birds  are  occasionally  seen 
in  this  vicinity  (Cambridge,  Mass.),  —  rendered  perhaps  bolder 
and  more  familiar  by  want,  as  the  prevalence  of  the  ice  and 
cold  at  this  season  drives  them  to  the  necessity  of  wandering  far- 
ther than  usual  in  search  of  food.  At  this  early  period  Audubon 
observed  indications  of  the  approach  of  the  breeding-season. 
They  are  sometimes  seen  contending  in  the  air,  so  that  one  of 
the  antagonists  will  suddenly  drop  many  feet  downwards,  as  if 
wounded  or  alarmed.  My  friend  Dr.  Hayward,  of  r>oston,  h;ul 
in  his  possession  one  of  these  fine,  docile  Eagles  for  a  consid- 
erable time;  but  desirous  of  devoting  it  to  the  then  Linnnean 
Museum,  he  attempted  to  poison  it  by  corrosive  sublimate  of 
mercury :  several  times,  however,  doses  even  of  two  drams 
were  given  to  it,  concealed  in  fish,  without  producing  any  inju- 
rious effect  on  its  health. 

The  Washington  Eagle,  bold  and  vigorous,  disdains  the 
piratical  habits  of  the  Bald  Eagle,  and  invariably  obtains  his 


own  sus 

describe 

headed 

ijft.'ie  w 

in  circuj: 

i'i>h.  on  1 

yards.     '^ 

tion  to  a 

1  he  quai 

L;iv;it,  ac( 

ill  confin 

aiul  one  J 

rhiladelp 

Pic  leering 

fcrence  it 

exceeding 

as  that  01 

wiiith,  ho\ 

nearly  wit 

'i'he  male 

seldom  nil 

That  th 

ciV/u),  or 

oils  from 

hc'mg  little 

less  even  1 

ton  Eagle 

which  will  1 

whole   Eag 

obtained  fn 

examined  n 

a  suspicion 

exists  also 

described  b 

from  the  po 

of  the  wings 


BAI.n   EAGLE. 


21 


own  sustenance  without  molesting  the  Osprcy.  The  circles  he 
(Ifscril)es  in  his  fliglit  are  wider  than  those  of  the  White- 
jicadnl  ]-;agle  ;  he  also  flies  nearer  to  the  land  or  the  surflvce 
of  the  water;  and  when  about  to  dive  for  his  prey,  he  descends 
in  t  irruitous,  spiral  rounds,  as  if  to  check  the  retreat  of  the 
h>h.  on  which  he  darts  only  when  within  the  distance  of  a  few 
yards.  When  his  prey  is  obtained,  he  flies  out  at  a  low  eleva- 
tion to  a  considerable  distance  to  enjoy  his  repast  at  leisure. 
I  iie  ([uantity  of  food  consumed  by  this  enormous  bird  is  very 
great,  according  to  the  account  of  those  who  have  had  them 
in  confinement.  Mr.  Audubon's  male  bird  weighed  fourteen 
ami  one  half  pounds  avoirdupois.  One  in  a  small  museum  in 
rhiladelphia  (according  to  the  account  of  my  friend  Mr.  C. 
Piclicring),  also  a  male,  weighed  much  more,  —  by  which  dif- 
ference it  would  appear  that  they  are  capable  of  becoming 
exceedingly  fat ;  for  the  length  of  this  bird  was  about  the  same 
as  that  of  Audubon,  —  three  feet  six  or  seven  inches.  The 
width,  however,  was  only  about  seven  feet,  —  agreeing  pretty 
nearly  with  a  specimen  now  in  the  New  ICngland  Musemn. 
The  male  of  the  Oolden  I'>agle,  the  largest  hitherto  known,  is 
seldom  more  than  three  feet  long. 

That  this  bird  is  not  the  White-tailed  I'lagle  {Falco  albi- 
cilla),  or  its  young,  the  Sea  JOagle  (/''.  ossifragiis),  is  obvi- 
ous from  the  difference  in  size  alone,  the  male  of  that  bird 
being  little  over  two  feet  four  inches  in  length,  or  a  little 
less  even  than  the  Bald  l'>agle.  The  female  of  the  Washing- 
ton Kagle  must,  of  course,  be  six  or  eigiit  inches  longer,  — 
which  will  give  a  bird  of  unparalleled  magnitude  amongst  the 
whole  Eagle  race.  Tiiis  measurement  of  the  Sea  Eagle  is 
obtained  from  Temminck's  "  Manual  of  Ornithology,"  who  has 
examined  more  than  fifty  individuals.  At  the  same  time  I  have 
a  suspicion  that  the  Washington  Eagle,  notwithstanding  this, 
exists  also  in  Fuirope  ;  as  the  rrrraf  Sea  Eagle  of  l>risson  is 
described  by  this  author  as  being  three  feet  six  inches  in  length 
from  the  point  of  the  bill  to  the  end  of  the  tail,  and  the  stretch 
ol"  the  wings  about  seven  feet  I  These  measurtjments  also  are 
adopted  by  Buffon  ;  but  the  individuals  were  evidently  in  young 


22 


BIRDS   OF   PREV. 


])luiTiage,  in  which  state,  as  described  by  llrisson,  they  again 
approach  the  present  species.  Nor  need  it  be  considered  as 
surprising  if  two  different  s[)ecies  be  confoundeil  in  the  Sea 
ICagle  of  I'Airope,  as  the  recently  established  Imperial  Kagl'j 
had  ever  been  confounded  with  the  Golden.  Another  distin- 
guishing trait  of  the  Washingt(jn  i'^agle  is  in  the  length  of  tiK- 
tail,  which  is  one  and  one  half  inches  longer  than  the  folded 
wings.  In  the  White-tailed  species  this  part  never  extends 
beyond  the  wings. 

Tlw  White-headed  or  Bald  Eai;;h\  —  This  noble  and  daring 
Eagle  is  found  along  the  sea-coasts,  lakes,  and  rivers  through- 
out the  northern  regions,  being  met  with  in  Asia,  Europe,  and 
America,  where  they  extend  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific,  and 
as  far  as  the  confines  of  California.  In  Behring's  Isle,  Mack- 
enzie's River,  and  (Ireenland,  they  are  not  uncommon.  I>ut 
while  they  are  confined  in  the  Old  World  to  this  cheerless  re- 
gion so  constantly  that  only  hvo  instances  are  known  of  their 
appearance  in  the  centre  of  Europe,  in  the  United  States  they 
are  most  abundant  in  the  milder  latitudes,  residing,  breeding, 
and  rearing  their  young  in  all  the  intermediate  space  from 
Nova  Scotia  or  Labrador  to  the  shores  of  the  (iulf  of  Mexico, 
'i'he  rocky  coast  of  this  part  of  New  l-'ngland  (Massachusetts) 
is,  however,  seldom  tenanted  by  this  species,  though  they  are 
occasionally  seen  in  the  spring  and  about  the  commencement 
of  winter.  In  the  United  States  it  is  certain  that  they  show  a 
decided  predilection  for  the  milder  climates.  It  is  probable 
that  in  luiro])e  they  are  deterred  in  their  migrations  by  the 
tyrannical  persecution  of  the  White-tailed  Eagle  {F.  a//>iei7/a), 
which  abounds  in  that  country,  living  also  principally  on  fish, 
and  therefore  selecting  the  same  maritime  situations  as  our 
Eagle.  In  the  United  States  he  sways  almost  without  control 
the  whole  coast  of  the  Atlantic,  and  has  rendered  the  rival 
Osprey  his  humble  tributary,  proscribing,  in  his  turn,  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  Sea  Eagle,  which,  if  it  exist  at  all  with  us,  is 
equally  as  rare  as  the  present  species  appears  to  be  in  lOurope. 

Though  on  Behring's  Isle  the  Bald   Eagle  is  said  to  nest  oii 


S 


cliils,  as 
I  iiitcd 
|iiiic  or 

[\xv.  laid 
ti'ps,  ani 
1(1   llic  lu 
[111-,  aluu) 
(lull  whiti 
an  iuterv; 


fcrrnl 


I'C 


otlcu  as  t( 
who^c  wai 
InTrding-i 
p.iiiTi!  as 
t(i  |urticul 
hcL'ii  dciiK 
It.  tliey  ha 
mj,  one. 
in  tile  nest 
taiion  at  all 
the  savage. 
The  hel] 
great  atten 
and  other 
ttcr,  produ 
young  are  a 
hrconie  gra 
year,  when 
conies  perf( 
young  are  n 
time  after 
timorous,  w 
(-■vrn   bristle 
tencc.     The 
<nrat  Eaglt 
audible  sno: 


BALD   EAGLE. 


23 


( liiTs,  ns  the  only  secure  situation  that  probably  offers,  in  the 
I  nitcd  States  he  usually  selects,  near  the  sea-coast,  some  lofiy 
piiie  or  cypress  tree  for  his  eyry ;  this  is  built  of  large  sticks, 
sc\(.ral  feet  in  length,  forming  a  floor,  within  and  over  which 
aiu  laid  suds  of  earth,  hay,  moss,  dry  reeds,  sedge -grass,  pine- 
to]  )s,  and  other  coarse  materials,  piled  after  several  incubations 
to  the  height  of  5  or  6  feet,  and  4  or  5  feet  in  breadth.  On 
this  almost  level  bed  the  female  early  in  February  deposits  two 
(lull  white  eggs,  one  of  which  is  said  sometimes  to  be  laid  after 
an  interval  so  considerable  that  the  young  are  hatched  at  dif- 
fiinii  i)eriods.  Lawson,  1  owever,  says  that  they  breed  so 
ofitii  as  to  commence  laying  again  under  their  callow  yoimg, 
who^c  warmth  assists  the  hatching  of  the  eggs.  This  eyry  or 
lii(ctling-i)lace  continues  to  be  perpetually  occupied  and  re- 
|.,iiiid  as  long  as  the  tree  endures,  —  indeed  their  attachment 
[o  particular  places  is  so  strong  that  after  their  habitation  has 
l)Li.ii  demolished,  by  the  destruction  of  the  tree  that  supported 
It.  tiu'V  have  very  contentedly  taken  possession  of  an  adjoin- 
ing nne.  Nor  is  the  period  of  incubation  the  only  time  spent 
in  the  nest  by  this  species ;  it  is  a  shelter  and  common  hal)i- 
taiion  at  all  times  and  seasons,  being  a  home  like  the  hut  to 
the  savage,  or  the  cottage  to  the  peasant. 

The  helpless  young,  as  might  be  supposed,  are  fed  with 
great  attention,  and  supplied  with  such  a  superfluity  of  f-sh 
and  other  matters  that  they  often  lie  scattered  around  the 
tree,  ])roducing  the  most  putrid  and  noisome  eflluvia.  The 
viiung  are  at  first  clothed  with  a  whitish  down  ;  they  gradually 
b(.(  nnic  gray,  and  continue  of  a  brownish  gray  until  the  third 
year,  when  the  characteristic  white  of  the  head  and  tail  he- 
touK's  perfectly  developed.  As  their  food  is  abundant,  the 
young  are  not  forcibly  driven  from  the  nest,  but  fed  for  some 
time  after  they  have  left  it.  They  are  by  no  means  shy  or 
timurous,  will  often  permit  a  near  approach,  and  sometimes 
own  bri;?tle  up  their  feathers  in  an  attitude  of  daring  de- 
fciK  c.  Their  cry  is  sonorous  and  lamentable,  like  that  of  the 
('■ri at  Eagle,  anil  when  asleep  they  are  said  to  make  a  very 
audible  snoring  sound. 


24 


HIKDS   OF    I'RKV. 


The  principal  food  of  liie  Bald  Kaglc  is  fish ;  and  though  he 
pobsfsscs  every  re(iuisile  of  alertness  and  keenness  of  virion 
for  securing  his  prey,  it  is  sel(h)ni  that  he  obtains  it  by  any 
other  means  than  stratagem  and  rapine.  For  this  habitual 
daring  ])ur])ose  he  is  often  seen  perching  ujion  the  nakid 
limb  of  some  lofty  tree  which  commands  an  extensive  view  of 
the  ocean.  In  this  attitude  of  expectation  he  heedlessly  sur 
veys  the  active  employment  of  the  feathered  throng,  which 
course  along  the  wavy  strand,  or  explore  the  watery  deep  with 
beating  wing,  until  from  afar  he  attentively  scans  the  motions 
of  his  ])rovider,  the  ample-winged  and  hovering  Osprey.  At 
length  the  watery  ])rey  is  espied,  and  the  feathered  fisher  de- 
scends like  a  falling  rock  ;  cleaving  the  wave,  he  now  bears  his 
struggling  victim  from  the  deep,  and  mounting  in  the  air, 
utters  an  exulting  scream.  At  this  signal  the  I^agle  ])ir;Uo 
gives  chase  to  the  fortunate  fisher,  and  soaring  above  him,  by 
threatening  attitudes  obliges  him  to  relincpiish  his  prey ;  the 
lOagle,  now  poising  for  a  surer  aim,  descends  like  an  arrow, 
and  snatching  his  booty  before  it  arrives  at  the  water,  retires 
to  the  woods  to  consume  it  at  leisure.  These  jjcrpetual  dep- 
redations on  the  industrious  Osprey  sometimes  arouse  him  to 
seek  for  vengeance,  and  several  occasionally  unite  to  banish 
their  tyrannical  invader.  ^Vhen  greatly  pressed  by  hiuiger,  tlie 
Bald  I'.agle  has  sometimes  been  observed  to  attack  the  \'ul- 
ture  in  the  air,  obliging  him  to  disgorge  the  carrion  in  iiis 
craw,  which  he  snatches  up  before  it  reaches  the  ground.  He 
is  sometimes  seen  also  to  drive  away  the  Vultures,  and  fei d 
voraciously  on  their  carrion.  r)esides  fish,  he  preys  upnn 
Ducks,  (leese,  (lulls,  and  other  sea- fowl ;  and  when  the  re- 
sources of  the  ocean  diminish,  or  fail  from  any  cause,  par- 
ticularly on  the  southern  migration  of  the  Osprey,  his  inlaivl 
dei)redations  are  soon  notorious,  young  lambs,  pigs,  fawns,  ami 
even  deer  often  becoming  his  l)rey.  So  indiscriminate  in- 
deed is  the  fierce  a]ipetite  of  this  bold  bird  that  instances  are 
credibly  related  of  their  carrying  away  infants.  An  attempt  of 
this  kind,  according  to  Wilson,  was  made  upon  a  child  lying 
by  its  mother  as  she   was  weetling  a  garden  at  Great  Egg- 


I 


llaihor, 

I 'agle  gi\ 

(  hild  was 

lia\e  liap 

Kieer,  \\i 

was  seizei 

live  miles 

I  liilil  was 

History  o 

that  familj 

ha\e  been 

I"  the  i)r( 

ivapers,  a« 

infant,  rep 

down  her  ( 

while  she  \ 

suddenly  d 

to  its  rocky 

of  this  sho( 

piit\,  hurry 

ing  the  chih 

'I'lie  J}ald 

circuits  in  i 

lime  attitud 

.'"id  lofty  ci 

\vhere  he  \\: 

uther  animal 

tuoiis  waters 


BAT.n   F.AGT.E. 


25 


Harbor,  in  New  Jersey;  but  the  garment  seized  upon  l)y  the 
\'.Ayi}c  giving  way  at  the  instant  of  the  attempt,  the  life  of  the 
(  hiitl  was  spared.  I  have  heard  of  another  instam-e,  said  to 
have  Iiappened  at  i'ltersburgh,  in  (leorgia,  near  tiie  Savannah 
Ki\L'r,  where  an  infant,  sleeping  in  the  shade  near  the  house, 
was  seized  and  carried  to  the  eyry  near  the  edge  of  a  swamp 
five  miles  distant,  and  when  found,  almost  immediately,  the 
( liild  was  dead.  The  story  of  the  Kagle  and  child,  in  '•  'i'he 
History  of  the  House  of  Stanley,"  the  origin  of  the  crest  of 
ihai  family,  shows  the  credibility  of  the  exploit,  as  supposed  to 
has  i'  been  effected  by  the  White-tailed  Eagle,  so  nearly  related 
to  the  present.  Indeed,  about  the  year  1745  some  Scotch 
reapers,  accompanied  by  the  wife  of  one  of  them  with  an 
infant,  repaired  to  an  island  in  Loch  Lomond  ;  the  mother  laid 
down  her  child  in  the  shade  at  no  great  distance  from  her,  and 
while  she  was  busily  engaged  in  labor,  an  I'^agle  of  this  kind 
suddenly  darted  upon  the  infant  and  immediately  bore  it  away 
to  its  rocky  eyry  on  the  summit  of  Hen  Lomond.  The  alarm 
of  this  shocking  event  was  soon  spread  ;  and  a  considerable 
party,  hurrying  to  the  rescue,  fortunately  succeeded  in  recover- 
hvj.  the  child  alive. 

The  iiald  Kagle,  like  most  of  the  large  species,  takes  wide 
circ  nits  in  its  flight,  and  soars  at  great  Heights.  In  these  sub- 
linir  attitudes  he  may  often  be  seen  hovering  over  waterfalls 
and  lofty  cataracts,  particularly  that  of  the  famous  Niagara, 
where  he  watches  for  the  fate  of  those  unfortimate  fish  and 
other  animals  that  are  destroyed  in  the  descent  of  the  tumul- 
tuous waters. 

All  ornitiiologists  of  the  present  day  agree  in  the  opinion  that 
Audubon's  "  Bird  of  Washington  "  was  an  immature  ISald  lOagle, 
—  the  difference  in  size  and  coloration  accounting  for  the  error. 

Xutlall,  following  Audubon,  wrote  of  the  two  phases  as  of  dis- 
tiiut  species  ;  for  it  was  not  until  about  1870  that  zuiishiiii^toiii  was 
(Inipped  from  the  lists.  I  have  given  the  two  biographies  as  they 
aijpcared  in  the  original  work,  for  together  they  form  a  good  iiis- 
tory  of  the  bird's  distinctive  habits.  The  difference  in  habits  noted 
is  not  due  to  difference  of  age,  as  might  be  supposed,  but  to  the 
diiYc  rent  conditions  under  which  the  birds  chanced  to  be  observed. 


26 


lilRDS   OF   I'RKV. 


I  will  take  tliis  opportunity  of  protesting  against  tlic  perpetua- 
tion of  an  idea,  still  cnrrent,  wliicli  oris^inatcd  with  tiie  older  writers, 
concerning;  the  "nobility"  of  the  Jui/ctntii/ii\  under  wiiich  family 
name  are  ;;r()upe(l  the  JOagles,  Falcons,  Kites,  and  Hawks.  'I'hey 
were  until  (piite  recently  classed  anionic  the  tirst  of  the  feathered 
race  ;  but  the  systeniatists  now  |)lace  them  below  the  Woodpeckers, 
and  next  above  the  (irouse  and  l'ij;eons. 

The  majority  of  the  luthonuiir  have  an  attractive  physique  aiul 
superior  slren,i,^tli,  as  well  as  a  haughty  bearini;;.  They  are  hand- 
some, stalwart  rutfiaus,  but  they  are  nollnui;  more.  They  aru 
neitiier  the  most  intelligent  nor  most  enterprising  of  l)irds,  nor  the 
bravest.  They  are  not  even  the  swiftest,  or  most  dexterous  on  the 
wing;  ;iiid  in  bearing,  proudly  as  they  carry  themselves,  are  \vA 
supreme. 

It  is  now  considered  probable  that  the  tales  of  Eagles  carrying 
off  children  are  myths. 


..    >.  ^ 


.A^ 


(;r.\v  ska  i:.\(;le. 

WHITE-T.MLED    EAGLE. 
H.VLLKKTUS   ALBICILLA. 

TiiAK.  General  color,  grayish-brown  (paler  on  margin  of  feather-); 
head  and  neck  gray,  —  jKiler  in  old  liirds  ;  tail  white;  legs  l)aie. 

Length  :  male,  t^t^  inches;  finialc,  3S  inches. 

.\'(.>7.  In  a  tree  or  on  a  rock,  sometimes  on  the  ground  ;  made  of  dry 
sticks  loosely  arranged  and  often  piled  to  consiilerabie  height. 

/s;;;;',>-.     1-3  (usually  2);  dull  white;  2.S5  X  -.25. 

Mr.  llageriip  reports  that  this  European  bird  breeds  in  southmi 
Greenland  and  is  cputc  common  there.  It  feeds  principally  on  lisli. 
but  will  eat  any  kind  of  meat  or  carrion,  being  particularlv  partial 
to  water  fowl,  and  is  much  more  enterprising  than  is  its  congein  r. 
the  Bald  Eagle. 


C'y- 


C'li.vK.    Above, 
Mdeof  the  head; 
"■'"i  white ;  uncu'i 
"'"'111  own.     FcL 
lAimth  2r  to  25  ir 

■^'  '•     Of   loose 
(lead  lice  is  sclcct( 

Ac;"-.     2  to  4  ;  , 


col 


'"■  geiicrallv  wl 


brown  of  V 


anous  s 


Ills 


foiim 


large  am 
"^■ar  fresh 


ami:rican  osi'ri:y. 

FISII    HAWK. 
Pa\T>!0\    HAF.IAK'JUS   CAROI.IXKXSIS. 

f'liAR.  Above,  dark  brown;  Iiead  and  neck  white,  with  dark  stripe  on 
>i(!e  ct  tiic  head  ;  tail  f,Mayi.sh,  with  several  narrow  dark  bars,  and  tipi)ed 
wiih  white;  under-parts  wliite  or  biittisli,  sometimes  (in  female)  streaked 
nitli  liiiiwn.  Feet  and  claws  large  and  strung.  Hook  of  the  liili  long. 
hi-iiLitli  21  to  25  inches. 

.\'  .'.  Of  loosely  arranged  sticks  on  top  of  high  tree,  —  generally  a 
dead  lice  is  selected;  usually  near  water. 

/.'c.,'>.  2  to  4 ;  variable  in  shape,  color,  size,  and  markings;  ground 
ii>l(,i  ;_;(.ncrally  whitish,  with  yellow  or  red  tint,  blotched  with  reddish 
bruwii  lu'  various  shades.     Size  about  2.50  X  1.75. 

This  large  and  well-known  species,  allied  to  the  Eagles,  is 
found  near  fresh  and  salt  water  in  almost  every  country  in  the 


WB!SBS!^Bf9. 


28 


15IRDS   OF   TREV. 


worUl.  In  summer  it  wanders  into  the  Arctic  regions  of 
l'luro]ie,  Asia,  ami  AnK"-ica  ;  it  is  also  e([uall}'  jnevalent  in  the 
milder  parts  of  both  continents,  as  in  Cireece  and  I^uypt.  In 
America  it  is  found  in  the  summer  from  Labrador,  and  the 
interior  around  Hudson's  Hay,  to  Florida;  and  according  tu 
lUirfon,  it  extends  its  residence  to  the  tropical  regions  of 
Cayenne. 

Its  food  being  almost  uniformly  fish,  it  readily  acquires  siil)- 
sistence  as  long  as  the  \vaters  remain  unfrozen;  but  at  the 
commencement  of  cool  weathei,  (  ven  as  (.'arly  as  the  closr  of 
Srptember.  or  at  farthest  the  middle  o/  C.lwbcr,  these  bird:, 
leave  New  \'ork  and  New  Jersey  and  go  farther  south.  'I  hi-, 
early  ])eri'jd  of  departure  is,  in  all  probability,  like  their  arrival 
towards  the  close  of  March,  wholly  regulated  by  the  coniin:; 
and  going  of  the  shoals  of  fish  on  which  they  are  accustoincil 
to  feed.  Towards  the  close  of  March  or  beginning  of  April  | 
they  arrive  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston  with  the  first  sho;il  of 
alewives  or  herrings  ;  but  yet  are  seldom  known  to  breed  along 
the  coast  of  Massachusetts.  'I'heir  arrival  in  the  spiing  is  wel- 
comed by  the  fisherman  as  the  sure  indication  of  the  appro.uh 
of  those  shoals  of  shad,  herring,  and  other  kinds  of  fish  which 
now  l)eg;n  to  throng  ♦^he  bays,  inlets,  and  rivers  near  the  ocean; 
and  the  abundance  with  which  the  waters  teem  affords  ample 
sustenance  for  both  the  aerial  and  terrestrial  fishers,  as  i  '  ii 
pursues  in  peace  his  favorite  and  neiessary  employment.  In 
short,  the  harmless  industry  of  the  Osprey,  the  familiarity  with 
which  he  rears  iiis  young  anjund  the  farm,  his  unexijci  le! 
neutrality  towards  all  the  domestic  animals  near  him,  his  suh- 
limely  pictures(}ue  llight  and  remarkable  employment,  with  tin 
strong  affection  displayed  towards  his  constant  mate  and  lorn: 
heljijless  young,  and  the  wrongs  he  hourl\-  suffers  from  the 
pirate  ICagle,  are  circimistances  sufficiently  calculated,  wi'.hont 
the  aid  of  ready  superstitie)n,  to  ensure  the  ]»ublic  favor  anil 
tolerance   towards  this  welcome   visitor.      I)ri\en  to  no  liar.-h 

);u- 


'Kie, 


necessities,  like  his  superiors  the   Ivigles,  he  leads  a  com] 
atively  harmless  life  ;  and  though  unjustly  dot)med  to  servi 
his  address  and  industry  raise  him  greatlv  al)ove  his  opjir^  -^i.'. 
so    that    he    sujiplies    himself  ami   his  young  with   a   plciuifiil 


--ibitenance 
uIm)  soniet 
IiUe-nt  o 
and  jirocee 
(■a-^\■  aii'l  w 
jiarciuly   \vi 
see-Ill  >;arce 
to  two  hiinc 
dee]).      Sud 
with  ])i'atin_< 
wil_\'  victim 
li\'  a  dodgiii 
whir!)  h:  v,oi 
not  ijis.'oura 
the  hi:,her  re 
expaiise.     }  f 
like  ;  falling 
:ng  noise  anc 
with   the   stn 
tVoin  his  fe-at! 
heating  in  the 
The  fish  whic 
'■i;^ht  pounds ; 
"t"  his  talons  t 
i-  too  large,  1 
buth  |].-,h  and 
i'roin  the  n; 
reinlered  exce 
.-^■iHTally  takei 
"''I'rey  someti: 
'I  tiino,  quie'th 
Unlike  othe 
Milered  gregari 
'"?  t(.  Mr.  Oar 
'!<-•  i>  sided,   nt 
<_>■    ^-  Vark),  , 
^'  i-Hii  oi   orve 

i  -e.-:i    il;,.,^^ 


AMEKKAN    USPREV 


29 


sustenance.  His  docility  and  adroitness  in  catching  fish  have 
:il^()  ximctimcs  been  employed  by  man  for  his  advantage. 

Intriit  on  exi)loring  the  sea  for  his  food,  he  leaves  the  nest 
and  piDceeds  dirccily  {o  the  scene  of  action,  sailing  round  in 
i:isy  and  wide  circles,  and  turning  at  times  as  on  a  pivot,  ap- 
n.iniulv  without  exertion,  while  his  long  and  curving  wings 
SLCin  >;  arcely  in  motion.  At  the  height  of  from  one  hundred 
to  twc  hundred  feet  he  continues  to  survey  the  bosom  of  the 
(hip.  Suddenly  he  checks  his  course  and  hovers  in  the  air 
with  beating  pinions ;  he  then  descen<ls  with  rapidity,  but  the 
w  ilv  victiu";  has  escaped.  Now  he  courses  near  the  surface,  and 
li\  I  (lodging  descent,  scarcely  wetting  his  feet,  he  seizes  a  fish, 
wiiii  li  h:  sometimes  droi)S,  or  yields  to  the  greedy  Eagle  ;  but, 
nui  (lis -ouraged,  he  again  ascends  in  s])iral  sweeps  to  regain 
the  higher  regions  of  the  air  and  renew  his  survey  of  the  watery 
expanse.  His  prey  again  esi)ied,  he  descends  perpendicularly 
like  .  falling  plummet,  plunging  into  the  sea  with  a  loud,  rush- 
ing noise  and  with  an  unerring  aim.  In  an  instant  he  emerges 
with  the  struggling  ])rey  in  his  talons,  shakes  off  the  w;.t''r 
from  Ills  feathers,  and  now  directs  his  laborious  course  to  land, 
heating  in  the  wind  with  all  the  skill  of  a  practised  seaman. 
The  fish  which  he  thus  carries  may  be  sometimes  from  six  to 
fi'^ht  ]iounds  ;  and  so  firm  sometimes  is  the  penetrating  grasp 
nf  his  talons  that  when  bv  mistake  he  engages  with  one  which 
i-  Uh)  large,  he  is  dragged  beneath  the  waves,  and  at  length 
bulh   lish  and  birtl  perish. 

I'lnm  the  nature  of  its  food,  the  fiesh,  and  even  the  eggs,  are 
rendered  exceedingly  rank  and  nauseous.  Though  its  prey  is 
1,'eiierally  taken  in  the  bold  and  spirited  manner  des(-ribed,  an 
Csprey  sometimes  sits  on  a  tree  over  a  pond  for  an  hour  at 
a  time,  quietly  waiting  its  expected  aiiproach. 

liilike  other  rapacious  birds,  these  may  be  almost  con- 
sidered gregarious,  breeding  so  near  each  other  that,  accord- 
i:i':iii  Mr.  (lardiner,  there  were  on  the  small  ishind  on  which 
he  r>->i(led.   near    to    che    eastern    extremitv  nf    Long    Island 


"^  "■  V>rk),n()  less  than  three  htmdred  nests  with  voting, 
n  r\  erved  twenty  of  their  nests  within  hialf  a  mile.  I 
•'.       il  "ni  nea'-lv  as  thick  about   Rehobotii  llav  in  Dela- 


30 


BIRDS    OF   I'REY. 


ware.  Here  they  live  together  at  least  as  ])eaceably  as  ruuk> : 
and  so  harmless  are  they  considered  by  other  birds  that,  ac- 
cording to  Wilson,  the  Crow  Blackbirds,  or  (Irakles,  are  some- 
times allowetl  refuge  by  the  Ospreys,  and  construct  their  nrsts 
in  tlie  very  interstices  of  their  eyry.  It  would  appear  scjuk- 
times  that,  as  with  Swallows,  a  general  assistance  is  given  in 
the  constructing  of  a  new  nest ;  for  jjrevious  to  this  event,  a 
flock  have  been  seen  to  assemble  in  the  same  tree,  squealing  as 
is  their  custom  when  anything  materially  agitates  them.  At 
times  they  are  also  seen  engaged  in  social  gaml)()ls  high  in  thu 
air,  making  loud  vociferations,  suddenly  darling  down,  and  then 
sailing  in  circles ;  and  these  innocent  recreations,  like  niiiiv 
other  unmeaning  things,  are  construed  into  i)rognostications  u! 
stormy  or  changing  weather.  Their  common  friendly  call  ii  ,i 
kind  of  shrill  whistle,  ^p]ic7o,  '///rri',  'plu-c',  rcijeated  five  or  >i\ 
times,  and  somewliat  similar  to  the  tcjne  of  a  fife.  Thoi:::!! 
social,  they  are  sometimes  seen  to  combat  in  the  air,  instig;iki: 
probably  more  by  jealousy  than  a  love  of  rapine,  as  their  food 
is  always  obtained  from  an  unfailing  source. 

Marly  in  May  the  Osjjrey  commences  laying,  and  has  from 
two  to  four  eggs.  They  are  a  little  larger  than  those  of  tin. 
Common  [''owl,  and  are  from  a  reddish  or  yellowish  cream-color 
to  nearly  white,  marked  with  large  blotches  and  points  ol 
reddish  brown.  During  the  period  of  incubation  the  male 
frc(|uent]y  supi)lies  his  mate  with  food,  and  she  leaves  her  eggs 
for  very  short  intervals. 

The  young  appear  about  the  last  of  June,  and  are  nio-t 
assiduously  attended  and  sup])lied.  ( )n  the  approach  of  am 
jierson  towards  the  nest,  the  parent  utters  a  peculiar  plaintive, 
whistling  note,  which  increases  as  it  takes  to  wing,  sai 'n,' 
round,  and  at  times  making  a  (juick  descent,  as  if  aimiii;'  at 
the  intruder,  but  sweeping  ])ast  at  a  short  distance.  On  the 
nest  being  invaded,  either  while  containing  eggs  »  yoi  im, 
the  male  dis])lays  great  courage  and  makes  a  violent  ami 
dangerous  o]>position.  The  young  remain  a  long  time  in  the 
nest,  so  that  the  old  are  some'imes  obliged  to  thrust  the'iii 
out  and  encourage  them  to  fly ;  but  they  still,  for  a  p'-riod, '  on- 
linue  to  feed  them  in  the  air. 


(■'HAK.     Abe 
ncaih   I  he  surf 
Imik!^  ,  below, 
veivfiifTL-rciit; 
with  while  and 
"iih  hiMwn.     L 
■^''>t     In  a  ti 
3-4; 


f  'ic  foreigi 
ncs  of  Hawk 
'K'nlv/rn  j)art 
t^'Hils  into  Chi 
'''<•■  i.iiroj)ean 
l''i'V'i!lv  at  th( 
'    ^  .   I   recei' 


|11UI-1 

any 
litivo, 
\\\m 
h;:  at 
the 
1)111.. 
iml 
ihc 
I'm 


i 


AMERICAN    C.OSHAWK. 
nr.uK  HEX  HAWK. 

ACCIPIIER    ATRRAI'ir.I.US. 

('ii\i;.  Aliove,  dark  bliiisli  prav  ;  lop  of  head  l)lack,  the  feathers  be- 
neath the  surface  wliite ;  wliite  strii)C  over  the  eye  :  tail  witli  four  dirk 
hand-;  hehiw,  white  l^arred  atul  streaked  with  narrow  d.irk  lines.  Voiin.u 
vcrv  different  ;  al)ovc,  brown,  edi^es  of  fe.uher>  Imttish  ;  tail  lighter,  tipped 
with  white  and  crossed  by  four  or  live  dark  l)ands;  below,  bullish,  streaked 
with  hi  own.     Lciii^lh  22  to  24  inches. 

.\;  /'      In  a  tree  ;  made  of  twii:;s. 

/■-...;<■  .3-4;  bluish  white,  with  buffer  reddish  brown  markings  ;  230 
■'  1-7  5- 

The  foreign  representative  of  this  elegnnt  and  sjiiritcd  spe- 
cies of  Hawk  ajijiears  to  ])e  common  in  I'rance,  Ciermany,  the 
norihrrn  parts  of  (Ireat  llrilain,  Riis?,ia.  and  Sil)eria,  ami  e.\- 
trr.ils  into  Chinese  'Jartary.  Our  si)e(ics,  so  nearly  related  to 
the  Kiiropean  bird,  is  very  rate,  miirratin.u;  to  tlie  South  a])- 
paremly  at  the  ai)])roa<h  of  winter.  On  the  2f)ih  of  ( )(  loher, 
i'\V'.   I   received  one  of  these  birds  from   the    i)roprietor  of 


n""Wii 


■HH 


moBBammmm 


32 


niRDS  OF   I'RKV. 


Fresh  l\)ncl  Hotel,  in  iho  moult,  having  the  stomach  cramnud 
with  moles  and  mice,  and  it  was  shot  in  the  act  of  devouring 
a   Pigeon. 

'I'he  (loshawk  was  held  in  considerable  esteem  for  falconry, 
and,  according  to  I'ell,  was  employed  for  this  amusement  by 
the  emperor  of  C'hina,  who  moved  sometimes  U)  these  e.\(  ur- 
sions  in  great  slate,  often  bearing  a  Hawk  on  his  hand,  to  k:t 
fly  at  any  game  that  might  be  raised,  which  was  usually  PIums- 
ants,  Partridges,  (Quails,  or  Cianes.  In  1269  Marco  Pulo 
witnessed  this  d'\ersion  of  the  emperor,  which  i)rol)ably  had 
existed  for  many  ages  previous.  The  falconers  distinguished 
these  birds  of  sport  into  two  classes,  —  namely,  those  of  falconry 
properly  so  called,  and  those  of  /ia7o/a'i!k:; ;  and  in  this  sccoiid 
and  inferior  clas.s  were  included  the  (loshawk,  the  Sparrow 
Hawk,  ISu/.zard,  and  Harpy.  This  species  docs  not  soar  so  hi^h 
as  the  longer-winged  Hawks,  and  darts  u]ion  its  quarry  by  a  ^id.c 
glance,  not  by  a  direct  descent,  like  the  true  Falcon.  'rht>c 
bird^)  v,-erc  caught  in  nets  baited  with  live  Pigeons,  and  reduced 
to  obedience  by  the  same  system  of  i)rivation  and  discii)lini' 
as  the   Falcon. 

A  pair  of  (loshawks  were  ke])t  for  a  long  time  in  a  cage  h\ 
Uuffon  ;  he  remarks  that  the  female  was  at  least  a  third  larmr 
than  the  male,  and  the  wings,  when  closed,  did  not  reuh 
within  six  inches  of  the  end  of  the  tail.  The  male,  though 
smaller,  was  much  more  fierce  and  untnmable.  '^Hiey  often 
fought  with  their  claws,  but  seldom  used  tlie  bill  for  anv  otl.ei 
])urpose  than  tearing  their  food.  If  this  consisted  of  IjIiiIn 
they  were  plucked  as  neatly  as  by  the  hand  of  the  poulterer; 
but  mice  were  swallowed  whole,  and  the  hair  and  skin,  .iml 
other  indigestible  ])arts,  after  the  manner  of  the  genus,  were 
discharged  from  the  mouth  rolled  up  in  little  balls.  Its  cry 
was  raucous,  and  terminated  by  sharp,  reiterated,  pien  in:: 
notes,  the  more  disagreeable  tlie  oftener  they  were  repcat-d: 
and  the  cage  could  never  be  ap]irGached  without  exciiin:; 
violent  gestures  and  screams.  Though  of  different  sexes,  ami 
conhned  to  the  same  cage,  they  contracted  no  friendshi]'  for 
each  other  which  might  soothe  their  imjjrisonment,  and  lin  Hy. 


1')  em  I  th 

n^c  ami 

iii^h!,    w) 

rej)i)ie. 

h  iwk,  left 

lit  the  wh 

iiii'  e,  iiiol 

.1  cannibal 

eit  their  ov 

The  ( Jos 
suppo.sjd  : 
i.'icos  of  Ca 
dmv.v^  the  i 
apjiareiUly  1 
south  to  Ma 
Its   usual 
countries :  tl 
•\'e\v    i'jii^lai 
iii'ii^ed    birds 
yoiin;^er    i)rt 
yoiiii;;-  of  se\ 
'I'iiere  are 
from  the  farn 
—  .Old  for  goc 
fh'i;ht  that^■s 
hines  a  spirit 
■ind  cunning  t 
0!ie  swoop  in 
L'arr\  off  a  1ki 
fli-lit. 

vol..  I.  — 


C;OSIIA\VK. 


1     T 


■^ 


lo  end  the  dismal  picture,  the  female,  in  a  fit  ;^f  indiscriminate 
y.\j.c  and  violence,  murdered  her  mate  ir.  the  silence  of  the 
ni"ht,  when  all  the  oiher  feathered  race  were  wrajipcd  in 
r(j)()-ie.  Indeed,  their  dispositions  are  so  furious  that  ados- 
h  iwk,  left  with  any  other  Falcons,  soon  effects  the  destruction 
of  ihc  whole.  Their  ordinary  food  is  young  rabbits,  sijuirrcls, 
ini'  e,  moles,  young  (Jeese,  Pigeons,  and  small  birds,  and.  with 
a  iannil)al  appetite,  they  sometimes  even  prey  upon  the  young 
of  their  own  species. 


'lliL-  (losliawk  is  not  so  rare  in  America  a.s  tlie  older  naturalists 
.siiji|H).sjc! :  indeed,  it  is  quite  a  common  bird  in  the  maritime  I'rov- 
iai  rr.  of  Canada  and  in  northern  Xew  England,  where  it  is  iDiuul 
(liiniiL,^  the  entire  year.  I'  occurs  also  west  to  Manitoba  ithougli 
aiipaixntiy  rare  in  the  Lake  .Superior  region),  antl  ranges,  in  winter, 
south  to  .Maryland,  Kentucky,  and  Ohio. 

\[>  usual  breeding  area  is  from  aI)out  latitude  45^  to  the  fur 
cni;iiiiii.s  :  though  a  few  pairs  probal)ly  build  every  year  in  soutliern 
New  bngland.  So  few,  comparatively,  of  tiie  older  and  full-plu- 
m,iL;i.il  birds  are  seen  that  the  species  is  not  well  known,  the 
vovinger  i)rown  birds  being  almost  inilistinguishable  from  the 
voim 


X  of  several  other  Hawks. 


'I'ltcre  are  several  species  that  receive  tiie  name  of  ■•  Hen  Tbiwk  " 
from  tiie  farmer;  but  none  is  so  much  dreaded  as  the  "  bhie  Hawk.'" 
—  and  for  good  reason.  With  a  boldness,  strength,  and  dexteritv  of 
flight  that  is  rivalled  only  by  the  Peregrine,  the  (losiiawk  com- 
hiius  a  spirit  of  enterprise  worthy  of  the  Osprev,  and  a  ferocity 
and  ciinniiig  that  are  unmatched  by  any  of  the  tribe.  I  have  seen 
one  swoop  into  a  farmyard  while  the  fowls  were  being  fed,  and 
canv  off  a  half-grown  chick  without  any  jjerccptible  pause  in  the 
tii-hl. 


vol..  I. 


1    '.TN^'^vVV; 


#^^ 


f 


I    .^:- ;;'/<,■>■•  ,.v,v  »Tol,\        " 
>.-,'.  ■■■'".  •v'.--.>'i 


COOPER'S    HAWK. 

Acni'lTKR    C(K~)PKRI, 

Char.  Adult  bluish  gray  or  almost  bluish  ash,  head  darker;  beluw, 
whitish,  breast  and  belly  thickly  streaked  with  reddi^li  brown,  sides  uiih 
a  bluish  tinge  ;  wings  and  tail  barred  with  dark  brown,  tail  lipped  with 
white.     Length  about  ifi  inches  (female  2  to  3  inches  longer). 

At'st.     In  a  tree,  near  the  trunk  ;  made  of  twigs,  lined  with  grass. 

^.^\<^-  3-4;  bluish  white  spotted  with  reddisli  brown  (sometimes  im- 
maculate) ;   1.90  X  1.50. 

This  fine  species  of  Hawk  is  found  in  ronsideralile  numbers 
in  tlio  Middle  States,  particularly  N'-w  \'()rk  and  New  Jcrsi  y, 
in  tlie  autumn  and  at  the  approac  h  of  winter.  It  is  '!m> 
seen  in  the  Oregon  territory  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific.  It^ 
food  ajipears  ]")rinci]iallv  to  he  birds  of  variotis  kinds;  fr mi 
the  Sparrow  to  the  Ruffed  ( '/rouse,  all  contribute  to  its  ra'.i.i 
cious  ajipetite.  I  have  also  seen  this  species  as  far  south  ;b 
the  capital  of  Alabama,  and,  in  comnif)!!  with  the  precedini.'. 
its  depredations  amoni^r  the  domestic  fowls  are  very  destruct  \c. 
Mr.  Cooper  informs  me  that  the  plumage  of  the  adult  11  iK 
bears  the  same  analoc;y  to  the  adult  of  F.  fi/sci/s  as  the  yuMii' 
of  that  species  does  to  the   present,  exceptint,'  that  the  ni   nb 


tmts  arc 
:,  (jr  e\ 

Cod]  II' 

ica  Irom 

.djunciaiit 

.Middle  .S 

]  I  IS  c.i 


'    ll.AK. 

'■■opur's  1 1, 

I''!'  of"  die  I 

"I  iii.iic  aboi 

Xt'st.     In 

'•15  <  I-I5. 

■|his    bol 

Ii.ihits  and 

amusement 

ft-^luon,  iiiw 

quinary  and 

<Ies(  ribc'd  b 

and  he  rem 

b  is,  ho\vev( 

.111(1  much   1 

"four  .specie 

(■■.u.y^  are  foui 

'''^'.v  lay  aboi 

I  rue  .Sparrow 

to  hunt  Part 

among  J'igco 

'"   die  wintc 

(■leeee,  and  ; 

''a\i'(    aniung 

t'leir    way    th 

^'or>air.s.      \\'i 


siiaki'-siii.\m;i)  hawk. 


35 


tints  arc  paler.     The  dilTurcncc  in  si/.e  between  the  two  is  as 
2,  or  even  3,   to    i. 

('()()])(.r's  Hawk  is  generally  distributed  throughout  North  Amcr- 
ica  ironi  liie  tur  countries  t(j  Mexico  (in  wiiUen.  th(.ugii  most 
.ihimdant  in  tiie  .>>outlicrn  portions  of  New  England  and  in  tl.e 
.\b(ldle  States. 

It  IS  called  '•  Ciiickcn  Hawk  "  bv  the  Norlliern  farmers. 


ith 


Icrs 


sh.\kp-shinnt:i)  hawk. 

A(  I  ii-n  1  k  \i,i  <  i\. 

('iiAK.  The  adult  m;iv  I>e  lie-t  de-t  1  lied  as  a  small  edition  of 
(iiptr's  Hawk,  which  it  leseniljles  in  almost  evervthing  but  si/e.  The 
1  i]-  111"  the  head  is  bluish,  and  the  cheeks  have  a  letldish  tinge.  Length 
lit  male  about  1 1  inches  ;  female  >'jine  2  inches  lon;4rr. 

X,-sf.     In  a  tree  ;  maile  of  twig-,  and  lined  with  leaves  and  grass. 

/•;->.  3-5;  bluish  white  or  greenish  white  blotched  with  brown; 
1.13  X  1. 15. 

1  his  bold  and  daring  species  ])ossesses  all  the  courageous 
habits  and  temerity  of  the  true  h'alcon  :  and  if  the  princelv 
aniMsenient  to  which  these  birds  were  devoted  was  now  in 
fashion,  few  species  of  the  genus  would  br  found  uKjre  san- 
guinary and  ])ugnacious  than  the  present.  i'lie  young  bin!  is 
(lesi  ribed  by  I'ennant  under  the  name  of  the  i)id)ious  l-'alcoii, 
and  lie  remarks  its  affinity  to  the  lairopean  .^jjarrow  Hawk. 
It  is,  however,  somewhat  less,  ilifferentlx-  marked  on  the  head, 
and  much  more  broadlv  and  faintly  barred  below.  'J'he  nest 
of  our  species,  according  to  Audubon,  is  made  in  a  tree,  and  the 
cl;i,'^  are  four  or  five,  gravish  white,  blotched  with  dark  brown  ; 
they  lay  about  the  beginning  to  tlie  middk  if  March.  'I'he 
true  .Sparrow  Hawk  shows  considerable  doc  ilit\,  is  easily  trained 
to  Imnt  Partridges  and  (Juails,  and  makes  great  deslriK  tion 
among  Pigeons,  }<-)img  poiUtry,  and  small  birds  of  .ill  kinds. 
In  the  winter  the\-  migrate  from  laimpe  into  llarbary  and 
tiriece,  and  arc  seen  in  great  nundjerM  out  at  sea,  making  such 
ha\oe  among  the  birds  of  passage  the\  ha[ipen  to  meet  in 
their  way  that  the  sailors  in  the  }dedilerranean  call  them 
forsairs.     Wilson  observed  the  female  of  our  species  descend 


I'.iRDs  OF  rKi;v 


upon  its  prey  with  i^rcat  vcloiity  in  ;i  sort  of  zig-zag  potnicc, 
after  tiic  manner  of  tiic  (ioshawk.  I  )cs<en(ling  furiously  and 
blindly  up(jn  its  (juarrx',  a  young  Hawk  of  this  species  broke 
through  the  glass  of  the  greenhouse  at  the  Cambridge  IJotanic 
(iarden,  and  fearlessly  passing  through  a  second  glass  ])arii 
tion,  he  was  only  brought  up  by  the  third,  and  caught,  though 
little  stunned  by  the  effort.  His  wing-fi'alhers  were  much  torn 
by  the  glass,  and  his  Ibght  in  this  way  so  imi)eded  as  to  allow 
of  his  being  approached.  'Hiis  species  feeds  principally  upon 
mice,  lizards,  small  birds,  and  sometimes  even  S(iuirrels.  In 
the  thinlv  settled  Stites  of  (leorgia  and  Alabama  this  Hawk 
seems  to  abound,  and  proves  extremely  destructive  to  yotuii; 
chickens,  a  single  bird  having  been  known  regularly  to  conic 
every  day  iintil  he  had  carried  away  between  twenty  and  thirty. 
At  noon-day,  while  I  was  conversing  with  a  planter,  one  of  tlusc 
Hawks  came  down,  and  without  any  ceremony,  or  heeding  the 
loud  cries  of  the  housewife,  who  most  reluctantly  witnessed  tiu' 
robbery,  snatched  away  a  chicken  directly  before  us.  At  an- 
other time,  near  Tuscaloosa,  in  Alabama,  I  observed  a  i)air  nf 
these  birds  furiously  attack  the  large  Red-tailed  Hawk,  s(|uall- 
ing  very  loudly,  and  striking  him  on  the  head  imtil  they  had 
entirely  chased  him  out  of  sight.  'I'his  enmity  a])peared  to 
arise  from  a  suspicion  that  the  lluzzard  was  ])rowhng  round 
the  farm-house  for  the  poultry,  which  these  Hawks  seemed  to 
claim  as  their  exclusive  perquisite.  .\s  this  was,  however,  the 
13th  of  February,  these  insulting  marauders  might  possibly  he 
already  preparing  to  breed,  and  thus  be  incited  to  drive  away 
every  suspicious  intruder  approaching  their  nest.  In  fnie 
weather  1  have  observed  this  species  soar  to  a  great  elevation, 
and  ascend  above  the  clouds.  Jn  this  exercise,  as  usual,  tlie 
wings  seem  but  little  exercised,  the  ascent  ])eing  made  in  ;i 
sort  of  swimming  gyration  ;  though  while  near  the  surface  oi 
the  earth  the  motion  of  the  wings  in  this  bird  is  rai)id  ami 
continuous. 

The  Sharp-shinned  is  the  comnioncsi  Hawk  throughout  >.(\v 
England  and  the  settled  portions  oi  Canada.  In  winter  it  ranges 
south  to  Panama. 


I 


CftAR.      G( 

lit-'',  darker  01 
/V,./.     On 

I  his  rem; 
appe.ir  to   e 

in  the  sumiv 
a  great  elev; 
''"/'•irds  in  tl 
tiu\  were  s(j 
""■^■'I'ing  aio 
M\-,'Mn^.,l    at 

N'^'  les  prettv 
•'Tl  "uments. 
'^  '--^  rarelv  sec 


MISSISSIl'I'I    KI'li:. 

BLUE    KITE. 

IciiNA   Mississipi'ir.xsis. 

Char.     General  color  bhiish-gray,  lighter  on  the  head  and  scconda- 
rit^,  darker  on  i)riniaries  and  tail.     Length,  13  in  le^'i  inclies. 
A'rs/.     On  a  tree  ,  of  small  sticks,  lined  with  inf)ss  and  leaves. 
£;;j.     2-3;  bluish  white ;  size  variable,  averaging  1.65  X  1.35. 

This  remarkably  long-\vinij;e(l  and  beautiful  Hawk  does  not 
a|i|  t  ir  to  extend  its  migrations  far  within  the  I'nited  States. 
W  iKuii  observed  it  rather  ])lentiful  about  and  below  Xatchez 
in  the  siminier  season,  sailing  in  easy  cireles.  sometimes  at 
a  great  elevation,  so  as  to  kee])  eonipany  with  the  'i'urkey 
iln//;u"ds  in  the  most  elevated  regions  of  the  air  :  at  other  times 
lh(.y  were  seen  among  the  lofty  fcjrest  trees,  like  Swallows 
s\vc(i)iiig  along,  and  collecting  the  locusts  {  C/\;n/n)  which 
swarmed  at  this  season.  My  frieml  Mr.  S;iy  observed  this 
sl)ei  ies  pretty  far  tip  the  Mississi])pi,  at  one  of  Major  Long's 
can  onmcnts.  lUit  excei)t  on  the  banks  of  this  great  river, 
it  is  rarelv  seen  even  in  the  most  southern  States.      Its  food. 


i 


38 


IIIRDS   ."I'  ruKv 


no  <l()nl)t,  abounds  more  aloni;  tin-  innncnsi-  \-alley  of  the  .Mis- 
sissippi than  in  the  interior  regions,  and,  l)esides  large  in 
sects,  probably  olten  con-.ists  of  small  birds,  li/ards,  snakes, 
and  other  reptiles,  which  swarm  in  these  their  favorite  resorts. 
On  the  fiilure  of  food  these  birds  mii;rate  by  dei^rees  into  the 
Mexican  and  South  .American  provinces,  and  were  obserNid 
by  D'A/.ara  in  Ciuiana,  about  the  latitude  of  7°.  According  in 
Audubon,  this  Kite  breeds  in  the  Southern  States  as  well  as 
in  Texas,  selecting  the  tall  magnolias  and  white-oaks.  l''roiii 
the  narrow  limits  within  which  this  bird  inhabits  in  the  I'nitid 
States,  it  is  more  than  ])rol)al)le  that  the  principal  part  of  the 
species  are  constant  residents  in  the  warmer  parts  of  the  Ameri- 
can continent.     They  begin  to  migrate  early  i:    August. 

The  range  of  this  si)eeies  is  given  as  '"southern  United  States 
southward  from  South  Carolina,  and  Wisconsin  and  Iowa  Id 
Mexico." 


\viirri:-rAii.i:i)  kiti:. 

iiLACK-sii(»i;i.i)i;K[:i)  kiit., 
l-',i.A\(>  i.iicikrs. 

('liAR.  General  color  ])hiisli  gray  fading  to  white  on  head  and  tail  ;  a 
lari;c  jKUch  of  lilack  on  shoulder;  lower  parts  white.  Length  15  to  lo-.^' 
inches. 

A'c's/.     In  a  tree,  lonsely  l)iiiit  of  sticks  and  leaves. 

£,^,i;s.     2-4;  iliill  white,  heavily  blotched  with  brown,  1.60  x  ••25. 

This  beautiful  Hawk,  scarcely  (bstinguishable  from  a  secoinl 
African  si)ecies  of  this  section,  chiefly  inhabits  the  contiui  iit 
of  South  America  as  far  as  Paraguay.  In  the  L'nited  State-  it 
is  only  seen  occasionally  in  the  peninsula  of  I'last  I''lorida,  cfii- 
fming  its  visits  almost  to  the  southern  extremity  of  the  Union, 
It  appears  to  be  very  shy  and  difficult  of  approach  ;  llying  in 
easy  circles  at  a  moderate  elewuion,  or  at  times  seated  on  liie 
"leadened  branches  of  the  majestic  live-oak,  it  attentis  ly 
watches  the   borders  of  the  salt-marshes  and  watery  situatii  ns 


■ 


: 


[nr  the  1 

ijipr-iacli 

litter  a  s 

ijf  bird 

1)111,1(1  aiK 

\  p.iir  Ii.i 

lllMlllll     (if 

■jliis    k 

SMiiih    C.i 
Illinois. 


'■|r.\K.     I( 

l.lli  ilrepiv  to 
.r,V.  fnr 
/:',,.<■.     2-3 

III  Iiiiiu-n  ;   i.,^ 

This  i)ea 
wanner  par 
tlcnt  in  all  t 
s'HUhern  as 
.'11  cording  ti 
■V^''-;  nnd 
!^|iccics   as   1 

.vi'l.  Icinpte( 
Mi-H's>,i[)],j_ 

fii-  ;!s  the  J 
laiitiide.  In 
c\iii  found  1 
lliiiain. 

I'iicse  K'lU 
A;iril  or  In.^j 


swAi.i.ow-i Aii.i.D  Kiri: 


yj 


iMf      till' 


riLlil-mi(i'  of  that  country,  or  unwary  Sparrows,  that 


i]i|iriia(  h  il-^  iK'rr 


llio  bird  of  Africa  and  India  is  said  to 
laiiT  a  sharp  and  picrciiii;  <  ly,  which  is  often  n'pcated  while 
I'l!'  hinl  moves  in  the  air.  It  builds,  m  the  forks  of  trees,  a 
l)i(Mil  and  shallow  nest,  lined  internally  with  moss  and  feathers. 
\  ii.ur  have  been  known  to  bri'cd  oii  the  Santee  Ri\er  in  the 
iiiuuih  of  Marcli,  accordinj;  to  Audubon. 

This  Kite  occurs  rcjjularly  in  tin;  Snudu'rn  States,  north  to 
Sniiih  Cai'olina.  and  .Mr.  I\i(l^\vay  lias  met  with  it  in  southnii 
lllmois.     It  e.xtciul.s  its  range  westward   to  California. 


lit 
it 
II- 
n. 


swAid.ow-TAii.Fd)  Kiri:. 

FOKK-lAII.F.l)    KITE. 

I'',i,.\\()ii)Ks  roKi-icvrfs. 

('ir.\K.  Head,  neck,  nniiji.  and  lower  parts  wiiite,  otiicr  parts  lilack  ; 
tail  (keply  forked.     I.L'ii^tli  k/j  to  2^^]^  inclics. 

,\i.>7.     In  a  trie  .  of  sticks  and  moss,  lined  with  gra^s  ami  leaves. 

/■.'  ,y.  2-3  :  white,  with  iiuff  or  green  tinL;e,  spotted  with  various  shades 
iifliiown  ;   1.S5  X  1.50 

This  i)eatitiful  Kite  breeds  and  passes  the  sunmier  in  the 
wanner  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  is  also  probal)ly  resi- 
iKiit  in  all  tro])ical  and  temperate  .Xnierica,  mi^ratinLj  into  the 
soiuhern  as  well  as  the  northern  heinis])here.  In  the  former. 
ar( ordinti:  to  Mellot,  it  is  found  in  I'erti  and  as  fir  as  lluenos 
Ami  ■>  :  and  thoti,Li;h  it  is  extremelv  rare  to  meet  with  this 
s|ir(  ios  as  far  as  the  latitude  of  40°  in  tin'  Atlantic  States, 
Vet.  teni])ted  by  the  abundance  of  the  fruillul  valley  of  the 
.Mi--w-.ip])i,  individuals  have  been  seen  aloiiu'  that  river  as 
fir  as  the  Ivdls  of  St.  Anthony,  in  the  44th  de,ij;ree  of  north 
latitude.  Indeed,  according  to  Ideming  two  stragglers  ha\e 
even  tbiiiid  their  devious  way  to  the  strange  (  limale  of  (Ireat 
biil  liii. 

T!;r:.e  Kites  ap[)ear  in  the  United  Stales  about  the  (lose  of 
A;)iil  or  beginning  of  May,  and  are  very  numerous  \\\  the  Mis- 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


// 


I 


<^'  m. 


<? 


Ja 


/a 


1.0 


LI 


IIIM    IIIII2.5 


IliU 

1136 


2.2 

1120 

1.8 


1.25      1.4 

1.6 

^ ^"    — 

► 

<^ 


% 


0% 


W 


/y 


O 


7 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


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40 


mUDS   OF    I'RKV. 


sissippi  territory,  twenty  or  thirty  being  sometimes  visible  at 
the  same  time  ;  often  collecting  locusts  and  other  large  insects, 
which  tiiey  are  said  to  feed  on  from  their  claws  while  flvinLj, 
at  times  also  sei/.ing  upon  the  nests  of  locusts  and  wasps,  and. 
like  the  Honey  JJuzzard,  devouring  both  the  insects  and  tluir 
larwne.  Snakes  and  lizards  are  their  common  food  in  all  jjan-, 
of  America.  In  the  month  of  October  they  begin  to  retire  to 
the  South,  at  which  season  Mr.  iJartram  observed  them  in 
great  numbers  assembled  in  Florida,  soaring  steadily  at  great 
elevations  for  several  days  in  succession,  and  slowly  passing 
towards  their  winter  (piarters  along  the  (lulf  of  Mexico.  From 
the  other  States  they  migrate  early  in  September. 

Tills  species  is  most  alnmdant  in  the  western  division  of  the  (ailf 
States,  but  is  irregularly  distributed  over  the  Southern,  Wcstoin. 
and  Middle  States.  It  has  occasionally  visited  New  I-aigland.  and 
c.\ami)les  have  I)ecn  seen  in  Manitoba  and  near  London  and 
Ottawa  in  Ontario. 


EVERGLXDF    KITE. 

BL.VCK   KITE.     HOOK-BILL   KITE.     SNAIL    II.WVK. 
ROSTRHANTLS   SCJClMilLlS. 

CllAK.  Prevailing  color  dull  bluish  asli,  darker  on  tail,  wings,  and  .in- 
terior portion  of  head  ;  rump  white,  with  terminal  bar  of  light  brown ; 
bill  black  ;  feet  orange.     Length  i6  to  iS  inches. 

A'est,  \  p!atforn\  with  a  slight  depression,  composed  of  sticks  or  dried 
grass,  built  in  a  low  bush  or  amid  tali  grass. 

ZfvA'-f-  2-3;  brownish  white  blotched  with  various  shades  of  bruv.;;; 
1.70  X  I  45- 

This  is  a  tropical  species  that  occurs  in  Florida..  Mr.  W.  K.  I' 
Scott  re])orts  rinding  it  abundant  at  i'anasofkee  Lake,  and  says: 
"Their  food  at  this  point  apparently  consists  of  a  kind  of  jarue 
fresh-water  snail  which  is  very  abundant.  .  .  .  They  fish  over  the 
shallow  water,  reminding  one  of  <jiills  in  tlieir  motions:  and  liaviiii; 
secured  a  snail  by  diving,  they  immediately  carry  it  to  the  nean^t 
available  perch,  when  tiie  animal  is  dexterously  taken  f.om  ti;c 
shell,  witliout  in)ur}   to  the  latter." 


AMERICAN    ROUr,H-LEC;c;i:i)    HAWK. 

r.LACK    HAWK. 
ArCHIHUTEO   LAGOPUS   SANCn-JOHAWIS. 

f'liAR.  General  color  variable,  —  dark  or  light  brown,  or  brownish  gray, 
soiiKtinics  black  ;  all  the  feathers  edged  with  lighter  color,  producing  an 
aiijiL.uar.cc  of  streaks.  The  absence  of  these  streaks  on  the  belJv  fornjs 
a  (lark  bantl.  Tail  with  dark  and  light  bars,  and  whitish  at  its  base. 
r.,-i>i!v  (listinguisiied  from  any  -Uher  Hawk  by  the  feathered  shank.  Length 
iij'>  to  22  inches. 

.\',  .'  In  a  large  tree,  or  on  rocks  ;  of  sticks  lined  with  grass,  drv 
muss,  and  feathers. 

/■\\y.  2-3;  white  or  crcamv,  more  or  less  spotted  with  brown;  190 
X155. 

This  remarkable  species  of  Pjuzzard  a])])ears  to  take  up  its 
lesiiKiice  chiefly  in  tlie  northern  and  western  wihls  of  America. 
.My  iViend  Mr.  'I'ownsend  fomid  its  nest  on  the  l)anks  of  Hear 
River,  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  The  nest,  formed  of 
laru'i-  sticks,  was  in  a  thick  willcnv  bnsli  r.bout  ten  feet  from 
the  i:round,  and  contained  two  younij  almost  lled.ued.     It  is 


42 


151 RDS   OF   PREY 


said  to  lay  four  egys,  clouded  with  reddish.  It  is  coninmn 
also  to  the  north  of  Murope,  if  not  to  Africa.  The  usual  station 
of  these  birds  is  on  the  outskirts  of  woods,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  marshes,  —  situations  suited  for  supjilying  them  with  tiuir 
usual  humble  prey  of  frogs,  mice,  reptiles,  and  straggling  birds. 
for  which  they  patiently  watch  for  hours  together,  from  daybreak 
to  late  twilight.  When  i)rey  is  perceived,  the  bird  takes  a  cau- 
tious, slow,  circuitous  course  near  the  surface,  and  sweeping  owr 
the  spot  where  the  object  of  pursuit  is  lurking,  he  instanih- 
grapples  it,  and  flies  off  to  consume  it  at  leisure.  Occasionallv 
they  feed  on  crabs  and  shell-fish.  The  inclement  winters  of 
the  high  northern  regions,  where  they  are  usually  bred,  failing 
to  afford  them  food,  they  are  under  the  necessity  of  making  a 
slow  migration  towards  those  countries  which  are  less  severe. 
According  to  Wilson,  no  less  than  from  twenty  to  thirty  young 
individuals  of  this  species  continued  regularly  to  take  up  tin  ir 
winter  (|uarters  in  the  low  meadows  behnv  Philadelphia.  'Ilicy 
are  never  ol)served  to  soar,  and  when  disturbed,  utter  a  loml, 
squealing  note,  and  only  ])ass  from  one  neighboring  tree  to 
another. 


The  great  variation  in  (he  plumage  of  this  Hawk  has  been  t!ic 
cause  of  consideral)le  controversy.  Wilson  wrote  of  the  black  ami 
the  brown  phases  as  of  two  species,  giving  ihcni  distinct  habits. 
Xuttall.  following  Audubon,  considered  the  chan^'es  from  light  tu 
dark  due  only  to  age.  Spencer  Baird  (in  1N5S),  Cassin,  and  I)r 
Brewer  agreed  with  Wilson.  Later  authorities,  however,  with 
more  material  to  aid  them,  have  pronounced  both  views  incornct. 
and  have  decided  that  there  is  but  one  species,  — that  the  black  is 
but  a  melanistic  phase.  Our  systematists  now  separate  the  Ann  ri 
can  from  the  Kuropean  form,  giving  to  the  former  varietal  r.mk. 
as  its  ■•trinomial  appellation"  denotes. 

Xuttall  does  not  mention  the  occurrence  of  this  bird  in  Massa- 
chusetts, though  Dr.  Brewer  states  that  at  one  time  it  was  alum- 
dant  near  Boston,  and  within  more  recent  vears  numbers  have  luin 
cai)tured  by  Mr.  K.  O.  Damon  on  the  Holyoke  Hills,  near  Si)r:';^- 
field.  It  occurs  withiti  the  United  States  i)rincipallv  as  a  wiiiicr 
visitor,  its  chief  breeding-ground  lying  in  the  Labrador  and  Hud-on 
Bay  district. 


RED-SHOULr)i:Ri:i)    HAWK. 

WIXTEK    MAWK. 

IjUTko  lini.ahs. 

riiAR.  Adult :  general  color  dark  reddish  hrowti ;  head  and  neck  ru- 
U>u> .  hclow,  ligiiter,  with  dark  streaks  and  li,nht  bars;  winj^s  and  tail 
bl.uk  with  white  bars  ;  lesser  wing-covcrts  chestnut.  Voung,  with  bttle 
of  tiif  rufous  tinge,  below,  buffy  with  dark  streaks.  Length  19  to  22 
inclus 

.\'  .'.  In  a  tree;  of  loosely  arranged  twigs,  lined  with  grass  and 
feathers. 

£,\>.     2-4  :  bluish  white  or  bulTy  blotched  with  brown  ,  2.20  X  1.70. 

This  very  elegant  Hawk  does  not  migrate  or  inhabit  very 
fartu  the  north.  It  is  never  seen  in  .Massachusetts,  nor  per- 
haps nmch  farther  than  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  In  the 
Snuthi'ni  States,  during  winter,  these  birds  are  very  coninion  in 
swaniiiy  situations,  where  their  quailing  cry  of  mtitiial  recogni- 
tion inav  be  heard  from  the  dei;ths  of  the  tlark  forest  almost 


44 


lURDS   OF   TREV. 


every  niorniiif,'  uf  the  season.  'I'his  ])laintive  echoing  nttc 
resembles  somewhat  the  gamiluus  complaint  of  the  Jay,  kic'o, 
kei-oo,  ki'i'-od,  continued  with  but  Utile  intermission  sometimes 
for  near  twenty  minutes.  At  length  it  becomes  loud  and  iin- 
patient ;  but  on  being  distantly  answered  by  the  mate,  tlic 
sound  softens  and  becomes  plaintive  like  kcc-oo.  This  mcjrn- 
ing  call  is  uttered  most  loudly  and  incessantly  by  the  malf, 
iiKpiiring  for  his  adventurous  mate,  whom  the  uncertain  result 
of  the  chase  has  perhaps  separated  frtJin  him  for  the  night. 
As  this  species  is  noways  shy,  and  very  easily  approached,  I 
ha\e  had  the  opportunity  of  studying  it  closely.  At  length. 
but  in  no  haste,  I  observed  the  female  approach  and  take  her 
station  on  the  same  lofty,  decayed  limb  with  her  companion, 
who.  grateful  for  this  attention,  i)lumed  the  feathers  of  his 
mate  with  all  the  assiduous  fondness  of  a  Dove.  Intent  upon 
her  meal,  however,  she  soon  llew  off  to  a  distance,  while  the 
male  still  remained  on  his  perch,  dressing  up  his  beatuifiil 
feathers  for  near  half  an  hour,  often  shaking  his  tail,  like  some 
of  the  lesser  birds,  and  occasionally  taking  an  indifferent  sur- 
vey of  the  hosts  of  small  chirping  birds  which  surrounded  him. 
who  ftjllowed  without  alarm  their  {)(-cuj)ation  of  gleaning  seeil> 
and  berries  for  subsistence.  1  have  oc'casionally  obser\etl 
them  perched  on  low  bushes  and  stakes  in  the  rice-fields,  re- 
maining thus  for  half  an  hour  at  a  time,  and  then  darting  after 
their  |)rey  as  it  cf)mes  in  sight.  I  saw  one  descend  upon  a 
I'hner.  as  1  thought,  and  Wilson  remarks  their  living  on  these 
l)irds,  Larks,  and  Sandjjipers.  'J"he  same  pair  that  I  watched 
als<j  hung  on  the  rear  of  a  flock  of  cow-buntings  which  were 
feeding  and  scratching  around  them.  They  sometimes  att:i(k 
sfjuirrels,  as  I  have  been  informed,  and  Wilson  charges  them 
with  preying  also  upon   Ducks. 

I  never  observed  them  to  soar,  at  least  in  winter,  their  time 
being  jjassed  very  miK  h  in  indolence  and  in  watching  for 
their  game.  'I'heir  tlight  is  almost  as  easy  and  noiseless  as 
that  of  the  Owl.  In  the  early  jKirt  of  the  month  of  March 
they  were  breeding  in  West  Florida,  and  seemed  to  choose 
the  densest  thickets  and  not  to  build  at  any  great  height  from 


RED-SIIOLLDEKED   HAWK. 


45 


the  ground.     On  approaching  these  places,  the  hr-oo  became 

\t  ly  loud  and  angry.  ^^ 

Winkr  JLnvk. — This  large  American  Buzzard  is  not  un- 
coiniiion  in  this  vicinity,  as  weli  as  in  the  neighborhood  of 
]'hil,i(k'lphia,  where  Wilson  met  with  it  along  the  marshes  and 
mcailows,  feeding  almost  wholly  upon  frogs.  It  is  abundant 
tdwanl  winter.  It  appears  to  have  very  much  the  manners 
of  the  JMiropean  lUiz/ard,  remaining  inactive  for  hours  to- 
Ljcther  on  the  etlges  of  wet  meadows,  perched  upon  the  larger 
liiub^  of  trees,  and  at  times  keeping  uj)  a  regular  (juailing  and 
r.;tln  r  hoarse  keii^/i-oo,  kcii^h-oo,  which  at  intervals  is  answered 
\)\  the  mate.  When  approached,  it  commonly  steals  off  to 
siuiie  other  tree  at  no  great  distance  from  the  first;  but  if 
the  pursuit  be  continued,  it  flies  out  and  hovers  at  a  consider- 
able height.  It  is  also  an  inhabitant  of  Hudson's  Hay  and 
Newfoundland. 

Xuttali  regarded  tlie  old  and  young  as  distinct  species,  giving 
to  them  not  only  distinctive  names,  but  a  dit^ercnt  distribution. 
Taken  togetiicr,  his  two  biographies  tell  about  all  that  is  yet  known 
of  the  habits  and  range  of  the  species.  It  is  found  throughout  this 
fauna!  province,  from  the  (lulf  States  to  the  southern  border  of  the 
fur  countries,  has  been  taken  at  York  Factory  on  Hudson's  Bay, 
ami  i>  common  in  ."Manitoba. 


Xoii:.  —  The  Florida  Ri:d-Shoului:keij  Wxwk  (Buteo  liiica- 
tus  allcni)  is  a  Southern  form  restricted  to  Florida  and  Texas. 
It  differs  from  true  lincaius  in  having  the  rufous  tinge  on  the 
head  and  neck  replaced  by  brownish  gray. 


46 


HIRDS   0|-   PRKV 


HARRIS'S   HAWK. 

Parai-.i  ri;t)  lnu  incus  iiakrisi. 

Char.  Prevailing  color  black,  sometimes  chocolate  brown,  tinged  with 
clit-stniit  (jii  the  lump  ;  ^iu millers  and  lining  of  wings  ehestmit ;  tailcnvtiis, 
base  of  tail,  and  terminal  band,  white.     Length  about  20  inches. 

A'l'sf.  On  a  clili  or  in  a  tree, —  usually  the  latter;  a  mere  platfoim  nf 
twigs  and  roots,  lined  with  grass. 

/•,"-vf-  --5  (usually  3);  while,  tinged  with  yellow,  somelnties  maiktd 
with  brown  or  lavender,  or  both  ,  J.15  X  i  65. 

Harri.s's  Hawk  is  abundant  in  parts  of  Texas  and  in  Mexico, 
and  occurs  in  small  numbers  in  the  southern  part  of  Mississiiipi. 
It  IS  usually  represented  as  a  rather  slii;;,!;i.sh  bird,  associating,'  witl; 
the  Vultures  and  joinint;  in  their  feasts  of  carrion,  but  sometinies 
preyin<j  upon  the  small  re])tiles  that  infest  the  banks  of  streams 
and  i)Ools.  Mr.  .Sennett.  however,  describes  those  he  .saw  aloni; 
the  lower  Rio  Cirande  as  more  active,  feeding  chiefly  on  biid.s, 
mice,  and  j.jophers. 


Ri:i)  TAILED   H.\WK. 

Bu'iEO  ii()ri:ai,i.s. 

Char.  Above,  dull  brown  streaked  with  rufous  and  gravish  ;  h(]<A\ 
whitish  or  tawny  streaked  with  bro\ui ;  tail  chestnut  al)ove  and  -r.iv 
beneath,  with  a  band  of  black  near  the  end  and  tii)|)ed  with  wiiite.  in 
the  young  the  tail  is  grayish  brown  crossed  by  some  nine  dark  li.ir>. 
and  the  underparts  are  white  with  brown  streaks.  Length  19'j  U)  :\ 
inches. 

A'iSt  In  a  high  tree;  of  sticks,  lined  with  grass,  sometimes  with 
feathers. 

/Ci,[!^s.  2-4  ;  whitish  or  bluish  white,  usually  heavily  spotted  or  blotiiini 
with  reddish  brown;  2  30  X  i  So. 

This  beautiful  Ruz/anl  inhabits  most  parts  of  the  United 
States,  being  obseiAcd  from  C'anada  to  Florida;  also,  far 
westward  tip  the  Missomi,  and  even  on  the  coasts  of  the 
northern  Pacific  Ocean,  by  Lewis  and  Clarke.  Wilson  found 
the  young  to  be  fully  grown  in  the  month  of  May,  ;ibout 
latitude  31°  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississi])pi ;  at  this  period 
they  were  very  noisy  and  clamorous,  keeping  up  an  imcs- 
sant  s(iuealing.     It  also  occasionally  nests  and  breeds  in  large 


uEn-r.\iLi:i)  hawk. 


47 


tni^   in  the  secludt'd   forests  of  thiri  p;irt   of  Massachusetts. 

1  liL'  young  birds  soon  become  very  submissive,  and  allow  thcm- 

sches  to  be  handled  with  impunity  by  those  who  fred  them. 

riir  oldiT  birds  sometimes  contest  wiih  each  other  in  the  air 

aluiul  their  prey,  and  nearly  or  wholly  descend  to  the  earth 

t,'iMi>pled  in  each  other's  talons.     'I'hough  this  s])ecies  has  the 

LjLiieral  aspect  of  the  liuzzard,  its  manners  are  very  similar  to 

lh(i-,L'  of  the  (loshawk  ;    it    is   ecjually   fierce   and  predatory, 

luiiwling  around    the    farm    often    when   straitened    for  food, 

and  seizing,  now  and  then,  a  hen  or  chiiken,  which  it  snatches 

|)V  makinjf  a  lateral  apjiroach  :   it  sweeps  along  near  the  sur- 

faic  of  the  ground,  and  grasping  its  prey  in  its  talons,  bears  it 

awnv  to  devour  in  some  i)lace  of  security.    These  depredations 

un  ihe  farm-yard  hai)pen,  however,  only  in  the  winter ;  at  all 

other   seasons    this   is    one   of  the   shyest   and  most  ditificult 

birds  to  approach.     It  will  at  times  poimce  upon  rabbits  and 

tou^iderable-sized    birds,    particularly    Larks,    and    has    been 

oltsLTNcd    in    the    Southern    States    ])erseveringly    to    i)ursue 

siiuirrels  from  bough  to  bough  until  they  are  overtaken  and 

seized  in  the  talons.     It  is  frequently  seen  near  wet  meadows 

wluie  mice,  moles,  and  frogs  are   prevalent,   an<l  also  feeds 

u|ioii   lizards.  —  appearing,    indeed,    often   content    with    the 

laosi  humble  game. 

They  usually  associate  in  ]iairs,  and  seem  much  attached  to 
ea(  h  other;  yet  they  often  find  it  convenient  and  profitable  to 
sc|iarate  in  hunting  their  i)rey,  about  whi(  h  they  would  readily 
(Hiaiiel  if  brought  into  contact.  Though  a  go(xl  deal  of  their 
linu'  passes  in  indolence,  while  perched  in  some  tall  and  dead- 
ciK'il  tree,  yet  at  others  they  may  be  seen  beating  the  groiunl 
as  they  fiy  over  it  in  all  directions  in  quest  of  game.  On  some 
occasions  they  amuse  themselves  by  ascending  to  a  vast  jle\a- 
lion,  like  the  aspiring  l">agle.  On  a  fine  evening,  about  the 
middle  of  January,  in  South  (Carolina,  I  observed  one  of  these 
birds  leave  its  withered  perch,  and  soaring  aloft  over  the  wild 
landscape,  in  a  mood  of  contemplation,  begin  to  ascend 
tuwards  the  thin  skirting  of  elevated  clouds  above  him.  At 
lcnL,'ih  he  passed  this  sublime  boundary,   and  was  now  ])er- 


48 


151 RDS   OK   TRLV. 


ccivcfl  and  soon  followed  by  his  ambitious  niate,  and  in  a  little 
tinu',  by  circular  ascending  g>  rations,  they  both  disappeared  in 
the  clear  azure  of  the  heavens ;  and  though  I  waited  for  their 
re-ait])earance  half  an  hour,  they  still  continued  to  be  wholly 
invisible.  'I'his  amusement,  or  predilection  for  the  cooler 
regions  of  the  atmosphere,  seems  more  or  less  common  to  all 
the  rapacious  birds.  In  numerous  instances  this  exercise  must 
be  wholly  independent  of  the  inclination  for  surveying  thur 
prey,  as  few  of  them  besides  the  Falcon  descend  direct  upon 
their  (juarry.  Many,  as  well  as  the  present  species,  when  uu 
the  prowl  tly  near  to  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  often  wait 
and  watch  so  as  to  steal  upon  their  victims  before  they  cm 
take  the  alarm.  Indeed  the  Condor  frecpients  and  nests  ui)oii 
the  summit  of  the  Andes,  above  which  they  are  seen  to  huar 
in  the  boundless  ocean  of  space,  enjoying  the  invigorating  and 
rarefietl  atmosphere,  and  only  descending  to  the  plains  when 
impelled  by  the  cravings  of  hunger. 

The  Eastern  variety  of  the  Red-tail  is  a  common  bird  throiii;li- 
out  eastern  North  America  north  to  about  latitude  .j.9°,  and  was 
taken  l)y  Ur.  IJel!  at  Fort  Churchill,  on  Hudson's  l>ay.  It  ranges 
westward  to  the  Great  I'lains,  where  it  is  replaced  by  the  sub- 
species krideri.  From  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  I'acitic  it  is 
represented  by  caltints,  and  examples  of  this  latter  variety  have 
been  taken,  occasionally,  as  far  east  as  Illinois.  The  Red-tail  is  a 
summer  resident  only  of  the  Maritime  Provinces,  but  a  few  are 
found  in  winter  in  southern  Ontario  and  New  England. 


NoTK.  —  .Mr.  Ridgway  now  considers  Hakkan's  Hawk  XoW 
a  variety  of  the  Red-tail,  and  he  proposes  to  name  it  liuteo  borealh 
hailnni.  Its  usual  habitat  is  along  the  lower  Mississippi ;  but  e,\  uii 
pies  have  been  taken  in  Illinois.  Iowa,  Pennsylvania,  and  Georgia. 

Two  examples  o£  Swainson's  Hawk  {Biitco  s7L'a//isi»ii),  a 
Western  species,  have  been  taken  in  Massachusetts,  —  one  at 
Wayland  in  1S76,  and  the  other  near  Salem  in  1878. 


BROAD-WINGKD   HA\\K. 

RUTEO    I..VIISSIMUS. 

TiiAR.  Above,  dull  brown,  the  feathers  with  p.ilcr  edcjes ;  tail  brown 
with  four  light  bars  and  tipjK'd  with  white;  below,  but'tish  or  tawny, 
IwiTiil  and  streaked  with  rufous  ;  wings  short  and  broad  Length  13/2  to 
15  inches. 

.W  ,'.  In  a  tree  ;  loosely  built  of  twigs,  and  lined  with  leaves  and 
feathers. 

/•',  ,'1.  2-4;  butTlish,  blotched  with  reddish  brown  of  various  shades; 
i.oo.--  1.55. 

This  species  was  obtained  by  Wilson,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Philadelphia,  in  the  act  of  feeding  on  a  meadow-mouse.  On 
bcin^  ajjproached,  it  uttered  a  whining  whistle  and  (lew  to 
another  tree,  where  it  was  shot.  Its  great  breadth  of  wing,  as 
well  as  of  the  head  and  body,  compared  with  its  length,  ap- 
jioars  remarkably  characteristic.  The  following  day  the  mate 
was  ol)ser\'ed  sailing  in  wide  circles,  the  wings  scarcely  moving, 
and  presenting  almost  a  semi-circular  outline.  These  two  in- 
dividuals appear  to  be  all  that  were  known  to  Wilson  of  this 

Vol..  I.  —  4 


;o 


UIKDS   oi"  rUEV. 


Ill 


species.  Aiuliibon  considers  it  by  no  nK;ins  a  rare  spec  lis 
in  Virginia,  Maryland,  and  all  the  Slates  to  the  eastward  u\ 
these.  Its  usual  prey  is  small  birds,  very  young  poultry,  small 
(piadrupeds,  and  insects. 

The  Uroad-wiii^ occurs  throughout  this  eastern  faunal  proviiRu. 
but  is  somewluit  local  in  clistributiou.  In  jiorlions  of  the  Maritime 
Provinces  it  is  abundant,  thoii^li  in  general  it  is  rallier  uncoiniiKiii, 
Mr.  John  N'eilson  considers  it  conunon  near  the  city  ol'  (Quebec.  Imt 
Mr.  Ernest  WinUe  rejjorts  it  rare  at  Montreal,  while  Mr.  William 
L.  Scott  thinks  it  the  commonest  Hawk  in  the  Ottawa  valley.  .Mr. 
Thomas  Mcllwraith  gives  it  as  a  "casual  visitor"  to  the  soutlurii 
portions  of  Ontario,  and  .Mr.  lOrnest  Thompson  found  it  abuiid.mt 
in  the  .Muskoka  district.  Thompson  also  rejjorts  it  common  in 
Manitoba. 

In  the  more  northern  portions  of  New  England  it  is  a  f.iidy 
common  summer  visitor,  while  it  is  found  in  .Massachu.setts  and 
Comiecticut  throu.i;hout  the  year,  but  is  rather  rare.  It  occurs 
also  in  more  or  less  abundance  in  all  the  Middle,  Western,  and 
Southern  .States. 

.My  observations  in  i>ew  Brunswick  have  led  me  to  form  a  dif- 
ferent ojjinion  of  the  characteristics  of  tiiis  Hawk  from  Ouisc 
expressed  by  several  writers.  The  exami)]es  I  mtt  with  were  imt 
peculiarly  void  of  either  boldness  or  vigor  in  pursuit  of  their  ]u\\; 
nor  peculiarly  spiritless  wiien  wounded.  They  did,  of  course,  like 
others  of  the  tribe,  pursue  weak  prey,  and  displayed  little  \r\w 
bravery;  but  bravery  is  not  a  characteristic  of  the  Hawks.  .\ 
wounded  Broad-winy-,  however,  acts  just  as  does  the  boldest  nl 
them,  —  he  turns  on  his  back  and  hits  out  with  claws,  l)eak.  ar.il 
wings  ;  aiul  the  gunner  wlio  thinks  lie  has  a  meek  or  spiritless  hinl 
to  handle  may  regret  the  thought. 


SHORT  TAIEKI)    HAWK. 

BriKo  HkAciiviRrs. 

Char.  Above,  brownish  black  or  blaekish  brown  ;  forehead  and  i  ;:cck? 
white;  tail  brownish  gray  barred  with  black  and  tipi)ed  wilh  whiti: 
beneath,  pure  white,  a  patch  of  rufous  on  side  of  chest.  Len_u;iii  i'' 
inches. 

A't'sf.  In  a  tall  tree  ;  maile  of  dry  twigs,  lined  with  fresh  t\v:,-  >■'■ 
cyi^ress. 

^&''^-     i~3  »  dull  white,  spotted  on  large  end  with  reddish  brown. 


MARSH   HAWK. 


5' 


The  black  and  brown  phases  of  plunia^ic  worn  by  this  bird  have 
caused  tiie  scientific  ornilliolo^nsts  no  little  perplexity,  and  been  the 
suli-ect  of  some  controversy;  so  a  brief  summary  of  the  various 
opinions  held  may  serve  as  an  illustration  of  the  evolution  of  many 
scii'iilitic  names. 

The  sjjecies  was  tirst  described  from  a  specimen  in  brown  plu- 
ni.iLir  and  j^iven  the  name  it  now  bea-s;  then  a  vouiilc  bird  came 
into  the  hands  of  another  systematist,  ..nd  supposin<^  it  to  be  a  new 
species,  he  named  it  B.  oxypicnis;  and  afterwards  an  example  in 
black  was  taken  by  still  another,  who  supposed  it  to  be  somethintf 
new,  so  he  wrote  it  down  I>.  fu/i'^iiiosKs.  These  two  last-men- 
tioiu'd  were  disposed  of  by  other  writers  as  synonyms  of  swiu'm- 
sciii.  ()xy/>/r>us  beinj^  considereil  the  youii.;  plumaj^e,  and  /////:,'/- 
nd.uti  a  melanistic  phase,  whih-  in  several  more  recent  works  the 
latter,  as  the  Little  Black  Hawk,  was  restored  to  specitic  rank. 
riiLse  oi)inions  have  recently  been  abandoned  for  that  which  has 
been  helil  for  a  long  time  by  the  few,  —  that  both  /u/Zi^tuosus  and 
ox\/>tt-nis  are  synonyms  of  the  present  species. 

It  cannot,  however,  be  said  that  the  matter  is  finally  adjusted,  for 
tlu'  black  color  still  presents  this  i)rol)lem  ;  Is  it  individual  or  sex- 
\i,il.  —  a  melanistic  phase,  or  the  normal  color  of  the  adult  male? 

■{"he  bird  is  entirely  tropical  in  its  range,  antl  is  found  within  the 
I'nited  States  only  in  the  tropical  portions  of  Florida.  It  was  sup- 
posed formerly  to  occur  there  merely  as  a  casual  or  accidental 
slrii;y;Ier:  but  recent  observations  have  jiroved  it  to  be  a  regulnr 
tliougii  uncommon  visitor,  and  breeding  there. 


MARSH    HAWK. 

MARSH   n.ARRlKR.     HLUE   HAWK. 

Circus  hl-dsonus. 


'  iiAU.  Adult  male  •  above,  bluish  gray;  tail  wiii\  dark  bauds  ;  rump 
white;  liencalh  white.  Adult  fenralc  and  ynun^:  al)u\e,  dark  hiown 
>irLai<Ld  with  rufous;  tail  with  dark  bands;  ruiui)  wliitc  ;  beneath,  tawny 
witli  (lark  streaks.     Length  19  to  24  inches. 

.Vest.  On  the  ground,  in  damp  meadow  or  cedar  swamp;  a  loosely 
arraiv^ed  platform  of  dried  grass  some  four  to  six  inches  high,  with  little 
depression,  occasionally  lined  witli  softer  material. 

/■\\-s.  3-3;  bluish  white,  sometimes  spotted  with  buftish  or  brown, 
I  .So  X  1.40. 


5^ 


15IRDS  0I-'  I'REV, 


This  species  is  coniniDii  iu  the  northern  and  temperate,  as 
well  as  the  warmer  parts  of  the  old  and  new  continents,  bein,:; 
met  with  in  ICurope,  Africa,  South  America,  and  the  West 
Indies.  In  the  winter  season  it  extends  its  peregrinations 
from  Hudson's  Uay  to  the  Oregon  territory  and  the  southern 
parts  of  the  United  States,  frequenting  chiefly  open,  low,  and 
marshy  situations,  over  which  it  sweeps  or  skims  along,  at  a 
little  distance  usually  from  the  ground,  in  (piest  of  mice,  small 
birds,  frogs,  lizards,  and  other  reptiles,  which  it  often  selects 
by  twilight  as  well  as  in  the  ofien  day ;  and  at  times,  pressed 
by  htmger,  it  is  said  to  join  the  (Jwls  and  seek  out  its  i)rey 
even  by  moonlight.  Instances  have  been  known  in  luigk'iid 
in  which  this  bird  has  carried  its  temerity  so  far  as  to  pursue 
the  same  game  with  the  armed  fowler,  and  even  snatch  it  from 
his  grasp  after  calmly  wailing  for  it  to  be  shot,  and  without 
even  betraying  timidity  at  the  report  of  the  gun.  The  nest  (jf 
this  species  is  made  on  the  ground,  in  swam])y  woods  or 
among  rushes,  occasionally  also  under  the  protection  of  rocky 
precipices,  and  is  said  to  be  formed  of  sticks,  reeds,  leave>, 
straw,  and  similar  materials  heai)ed  together,  and  finished  with 
a  lining  of  feathers,  hair,  or  other  soft  substances.  In  the 
/^  cincraai/s,  so  nearly  related  to  this  species,  the  eggs  are  of 
a  pure  white.  When  their  young  are  ajjproachcd,  the  panuits, 
hovering  round  the  intruder  and  uttering  a  sort  of  uncouth 
syllable,  like  gcg  gci;  }:;tli^,  or  i,'^  .j,--^  >ic  gc  ge,  seem  full  of  afri^ht 
and  anxiety.  The  Crows,  however,  are  their  greatest  enemies, 
and  they  often  succeed  in  demolishing  the  nests.  The  young 
are  easily  tamed,  and  feed  almost  immediately  without  exhib- 
iting any  signs  of  fear. 

Nuttall  has  told  about  all  tliat  more  modern  observers  have  to 
tell  of  this  species.  The  authorities  differ  chiefly  in  descriptions  oi 
the  structure  of  the  nest  and  the  markings  on  the  eggs.  The  nests 
that  I  have  examined  iuive  been  composed  entirely  of  coarse  grass, 
without  lining,  though  the  softest  of  the  grass  was  laid  on  tup. 
The  eggs  were  unspotted. 


''IIAR.    Ab 
^P  's;   dark 
niT^ins;  tail 

^'•M     On  : 

A^yj--    2-7 

''''lis  rem 

the  precedii 

Arctic  wilds 

tlie  fur  com 

stragglers,  nc 

of  winter,  pe; 

the  I'nited  Si 

'"  ^'Crmany, 

t'l^}'  are  obse 

('rouse  and  o 

like  a  Falcon 


HA\\'K  OWL. 

SURNLV   UI.LLA   CAPAROCH. 

("IIAK.  Above,  dull  blackish  brown,  spotted  with  white ;  crown  witiiotit 
>!>  t-,;  dark  patch  on  the  checks;  face  white,  the  feathers  with  dark 
margins;  tail  and  wing  with  white  bars;  below,  white  with  dark  bars, 
Lcn;4th  14^4  to  I7>^  inches. 

A'cif.     On  a  tree  ;  of  twigs  lined  with  feathers. 

£;yj-.     2-7;  dull  white  ;  1.55  X  1.25. 

This  remarkable  species,  forming  a  connecting  link  with 
the  preceding  genus  of  the  Hawks,  is  nearly  confined  to  the 
Arctic  wilds  of  both  continents,  being  frequent  in  Siberia  and 
the  fur  countri>_a  from  Hudson's  l>ay  t(j  the  Pacific.  A  few 
stragglers,  now  and  then,  at  distant  intervals  and  in  the  depths 
of  winter,  penetrate  on  the  one  side  into  the  northern  parts  of 
tlu'  I'nitcd  States,  and  on  the  other  they  occasionally  apj^ear 
ill  (.icrmany,  and  more  rarely  in  France.  At  Hudson's  IJay 
thiv  are  observed  by  day  flying  high  and  preying  on  the  \\'hite 
(Irouse  and  other  birds,  sometimes  even  attending  the  hunter 
like  a  Falcon,  and  boldly  taking  up  the  woundc  '  game  as  it 


54 


15IKDS   OF   PREY. 


flutters  on  the  ground.  They  are  also  said  to  feed  on  mire 
and  insects,  and  (according  to  Meyer)  they  nest  upon  trees, 
laying  two  white  eggs.  'I'hey  are  said  to  be  constant  atten- 
dants on  the  ]*tarmigans  in  their  spring  migrations  towards  the 
North,  and  are  observed  to  hover  round  the  camp-fires  of  ihc 
natives,  in  (juest  probably  of  any  offiil  or  rejected  game. 

In  Massachusetts  and  tlio  more  southern  portions  of  New  Kiii,'- 
land  the  Hav  k  Owl  is  only  an  occasional  winter  visitor ;  hut  in 
northern  New  England  and  the  Maritime  Provinces  it  occurs  rc^u- 
lurly,  though  of  varying  abundance,  in  some  seasons  being  quite 
rare.  It  is  fairly  common  near  Montre.il,  and  rare  in  Ontario  and 
in  Ohio.  Thompson  reports  it  abundant  in  Manitoba,  but  only 
one  example  has  been  taken  in  Illinois  {Riifgwuv).  It  breeds  '\\\ 
Newfoundland  and  the  Magdalen  Islands,  and  north  to  sub-arclic 


SNOWY   OWL. 

NVCTEA    \YCir.A. 

''"iixR.  General  color  pure  white,  with  markings  of  dull  brown  or 
brownish  black,  the  abundance  and  shade  of  tiie  spots  varying  with  age. 
A  lar;;L',  stout  bird.      Length  23  to  27  inches. 

.\',.>7.     On  the  ground,  of  twigs  and  grass,  lined  with  feathers. 

AVvf.     5^0  10;  white;  2.55  X  190. 

This  very  large  and  often  snow-white  species  of  Owl  is 
ilniost  an  exclusive  inhabitant  of  the  Arctic  regions  of  both 
(oniinents,  being  common  in  Iceland,  the  Shetland  Islands, 
Kaiiuschatka,  Lapland,  and  Hudson's  Lay.  In  these  dreary 
uil(L,  surrounded  by  an  almost  peri)etual  winter,  he  dwells, 
breeds,  and  obtains  his  subsistence.     His  white  robe  remlers 


so 


BIRDS   OF  PREY. 


him  scarcely  discernible  from  the  overwhelming  snows,  where 
he  reigns,  like  the  boreal  spirit  of  the  storm.  His  loud,  hol- 
low, barking  growl,  'To/iOiC/i,  '70/1020/1,  ''w/uno/i  /iii/i,  /id/i,  /lah, 
/lii/i^  and  other  more  dismal  cries,  sound  like  the  unearllily 
ban  of  Cerberus ;  and  heard  amidst  a  region  of  cheerless  soli- 
tude, his  lonely  and  terrific  voice  augments  rather  than  relicN  es 
the  horrors  of  the  scene. 

Clothed  with  a  dense  coating  of  feathers,  which  hide  even 
the  nostrils,  and  leave  only  the  talons  exposed,  he  ventures 
abroad  boldly  at  all  seasons,  and,  like  the  Hawks,  seeks  his 
prey  by  daylight  as  well  as  dark,  skimming  aloft  -^nd  reconnt)!- 
tring  his  prey,  which  is  commonly  the  White  Grouse  or  some 
other  birds  of  the  same  genus,  as  well  as  hares.  On  these  he 
darts  from  above,  and  rapidly  seizes  them  in  his  resistless 
talons.  At  times  he  watches  for  fish,  and  condescends  also  to 
prey  upon  rats,  mice,  and  even  carrion. 

These  birds  appear  to  have  a  natural  aversion  to  settled 
countries ;  for  which  reason,  perhaps,  and  the  severity  of  the 
climate  of  Arctic  America,  they  are  frequently  known  to  wander 
in  the  winter  south  through  the  thinly  settled  interior  of  the 
United  States.  They  migrate  probably  by  pairs ;  and  accord- 
ing to  Wilson,  two  of  these  birds  were  so  stupid,  or  dazzled, 
as  to  alight  on  the  roof  of  the  court-house  in  the  large  town  of 
Cincinnati.  In  South  Carolina  Dr.  Garden  saw  them  o( ca- 
sionally,  and  they  were,  in  this  mild  region,  obser\-ed  to  hide 
themselves  during  the  day  in  the  palmetto-groves  of  the  sea- 
coast,  and  only  sallied  out  towards  night  in  quest  of  their  prey. 
Their  habits,  therefore,  seem  to  vary  considerably,  according 
to  circumstances  and  climate. 

This  species  is  a  regular  winter  visitor  to  the  Northern  and 
Middle  States,  and  during  some  seasons  has  been  quite  abundant. 
A  few  pairs  have  been  seen  in  summer  in  northern  Maine,  New 
Brunswick,  and  Nova  Scotia;  but  the  usual  breeding-ground  is 
from  about  latitude  50^  to  the  Arctic  regions. 

Willie  in  tlieir  more  southern  resorts  they  are  rarely  found  far 
from  t'^e  forest  districts. 

.ese  latter  syllables  with  the  usual  quivering  sound  of  the  Owl. 


if 


SCREECH   OWL. 

MOTTLED  OWL.     RED  OWL. 
Megascops  ASIO. 

Char.  Above,  varying  greatly  from  brownish  gray  to  brownish  red, 
spotted  (mottled)  with  darker  shades  of  the  same  tint  and  with  blackish; 
hel'iw,  dull  whitish  or  with  a  rufous  tint  and  heavily  marked  with  dull 
briHvn  or  blackish.  In  highly  colored  red  examples  the  spots  are  less 
frciiuent.  Large  ear  tufts  ;  wings  and  tail  barred  with  the  light  and  dark 
colors  ;  legs  feathered  and  toes  bristled.     Length  7  to  10  inches. 

i\'t''/.  In  a  hollow  tree  or  stump  ;  the  bottom  of  the  hole  slightly  lined 
with  leaves  or  feathers. 

£v,vr-    4-S  ;  white,  nearly  round  ;  1.35  X  1.20. 

Mottled  Owl.  —  This  common,  small,  and  handsome  species, 
known  as  the  Little  Screech  Owl,  is  probably  resident  in  every 
part  of  ihe  United  States,  and,  in  fact,  inhabits  from  (Ireenland 
to  i'lorida,  and  'vestward  to  the  Oregon.  It  appears  more 
abundant  in  autumn  and  winter,  as  at  those  seasons,  food  fail- 


;8 


BIRDS  OF  I'REV. 


ing,  it  is  obliged  to  approach  habitations  and  barns,  in  which 
the  mice  it  ( hicfly  jircys  on  now  assemble  ;  it  also  lies  in  wait 
fur  small  birds,  and  feeds  on  beetles,  crickets,  and  other  in- 
sects. The  nest  is  usually  in  the  hollow  of  an  old  orchard  tree, 
about  the  months  of  May  or  June  ;  it  is  lined  carelessly  with 
a  little  hay,  leaves,  and  feathers,  and  the  eggs  are  commonly 
four  to  six,  white,  and  nearly  round.  Aldrovandus  remarks 
that  the  (Ireat  Horned  Owl  ])r()vides  so  ])lentifully  for  its 
yoimg  that  a  person  might  obtain  some  dainties  from  the 
ne.-.t,  and  yet  leave  a  sufficiency  for  the  Owlets  besides.  The 
same  remark  may  also  apply  to  this  species,  as  in  the  hollow 
stmiip  of  an  apple-tree,  which  contained  a  brood  of  these 
yoimg  Owls,  were  foinid  several  Uluebirds,  Blackbirds,  and 
Song  Sparrows,  intended  as  a  supply  of  food. 

During  the  day  these  birds  retire  into  hollow  trees  ami  un- 
frequented barns,  or  hide  in  the  thickest  evergreens.  At  tinus 
they  are  seen  abroad  by  day,  and  in  cloudy  weather  they  wake 
up  from  their  diurnal  shunbers  a  considerable  time  before 
dark.  In  the  day  they  are  always  drowsy,  or,  as  if  dozing, 
closing,  or  scarcely  half  opening  their  heavy  eyes,  presentini; 
the  very  picture  of  sloth  and  nightly  dissipation.  When  ])ir- 
ceived  by  the  smaller  l)irds,  they  are  at  once  recognized  as 
their  insic'iious  enemies  ;  and  the  rareness  of  their  ap]X'aran(  e, 
before  the  usual  roosting-time  of  other  birds,  augments  the 
suspicicn  they  entertain  of  these  feline  hunters.  From  coin- 
])lain*.s  and  cries  of  alarm,  the  Thrush  sometimes  threatens 
blows  ;  and  though  evening  has  perhaps  set  in,  the  snialkr 
birds  and  caf:kling  Robins  re-echo  their  shrill  chirpings  and 
complaints  throughout  an  extensive  wood,  until  the  nocturnal 
monster  has  to  seek  safety  in  a  distant  flight.  Their  notes  are 
most  frequent  in  the  latter  end  of  summer  and  autinim,  crying 
in  a  sort  of  wailing  (]uiver,  not  very  unlike  the  whining  of  a 
puppy  dog.  //fl,  ho  ho  ltd  ho  ho  ho,  proceeding  from  high  and 
clear  to  a  low  guttural  shake  or  trill.  These  notes,  at  little  in- 
tervals, arc  answered  by  some  companion,  and  appear  to  ho 
chiefly  a  call  of  recognition  from  yotmg  of  the  same  brood,  or 
pairs  who  wish  to  discover  each  other  after  having  been  sepa- 


i ; 
I  i 


RED  OWL. 


59 


rated  while  dozing  in  the  day.  On  moonlight  evenings  this 
skiidcr  wailing  is  kept  up  nearly  until  midnight. 

Rtii  0-i^<L  —  From  the  very  satisfactory  and  careful  observa- 
tion-. ^)i  Dr.  Ezra  Michener,  of  New  (larden,  Chester  County, 
IVnnsylvania,  published  in  the  eighth  volume  of  the  Journal  of 
the  .\(  ademy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  it  appears 
(cruiin  that  the  Red  and  (Iray  "  Screech  Owls  "  of  the  United 
States  are  s])ecifically  distinct ;  he  has  observed  that  the  Red 
(I  '.  rear  young  of  the  same  color,  and  that  the  Cray  Owls 
ot  the  i)receding  species  have  also  young  which  are  gray  and 
mottled  from  the  very  nest.  Still  different  as  they  are  in 
plumage,  the  habits  of  the  species  are  nearly  alike,  'i'he 
])re>ent  inhabits  and  breeds  in  most  parts  of  the  United  States. 
In  Pennsylvania  they  are  hatched  by  the  latter  end  of  May, 
breeding  in  hollow  trees.     The  eggs  are  about  four. 

I  have  had  an  op])ortunity  of  verifying  all  that  Wilson  re- 
lates of  the  manners  of  this  species  in  a  Red  or  young  Owl, 
taken  out  of  a  hollow  apple-tree,  which  I  kept  for  some 
nioiitlis.  A  dark  closet  was  his  favorite  retreat  during  the 
(lay.  In  the  evening  he  became  very  lively  and  restless,  glid- 
inij  across  the  room  in  which  he  was  confined,  with  a  side- 
long', noiseless  flight,  as  if  wafted  by  the  air  alone.  .At  times 
he  (lung  to  the  wainscot,  and,  unable  to  turn,  he  brought  his 
head  round  to  his  back,  so  as  to  present,  by  the  aid  of  his 
l)iilliant  eyes,  a  most  spectral  and  unearthly  appearance.  As 
the  eyes  of  all  the  Owls,  according  to  Wilson,  are  fixed  im- 
movably in  the  socket  by  means  of  a  many  cleft  capsular  liga- 
ment, this  provision  for  the  free  versatile  motion  of  the  head 
appears  necessary.  When  approached  towards  evening,  he 
a|i]ieare(l  strongly  engaged  in  reconnoitring  the  object,  blow- 
ini,Mvitli  a  hissing  noise  {^sha\\  shay,  shay),  common  to  other 
s]ieeies,  and  stretching  out  his  neck  with  a  waving,  lateral 
motion,  in  a  threatening  attitude,  and,  on  a  nearer  a])proach, 
made  a  snap])ing  with  the  bill,  produced  by  striking  together 
botli  mandibles,  as  they  are  equally  movable.  He  was  a  very 
expert  mouse-catcher,  swallowed  his  jirey  whole,  and  then, 
after  some  time,  ejected  from  the  bill  the  bones,  skin,  and 


6o 


I'.IRDS  OF   I'REV 


hair,  in  pellets.  Tic  also  dcvonred  lari,'c  flics,  which  at  this 
time  came  into  the  room  in  great  niunbers  ;  and  even  llie  iliy 
parts  of  these  were  also  eje(  led  from  the  stomach  without  ili- 
geslion.  A  ])et  of  this  species,  wliich  Dr.  Michener  hul. 
drank  freciuently,  and  was  accustomed  to  wash  every  day  in 
a  basin  of  cold  water  during  the  heat  of  summer. 

Nuttall,  following  Wilson  and  Aiidulion,  treated  the  gray  and 
red  ])liases  of  this  bird  as  two  distinct  species,  and  wrote  scpar.ik' 
l)iograi)Iiies,  which  1  insert  in  full.  .Some  oniitliologists  have  sup 
posed  tiiat  tlie  gray  specimens  were  the  young  birds;  but  it  has 
been  proved  beyond  (piestion  that  the  two  phases  are  simi)ly  indi- 
vidual variations  of  the  same  species,  dray  and  red  birds  li avc 
been  found  in  one  nest,  with  both  parents  gray,  or  both  red,  or  witli 
one  of  each  color. 


NoTi:.  —  A  smaller  and  darker  race  is  found  in  .South  Carolinn, 
(leorgia,  and  Florida.  It  is  named  Florida  Sckkix'H  Owi 
(J/,  asio  Jloridtiiius).  In  this  race  the  reddish  feathers  wear  a 
richer  rufous  tint,  and  the  gray  are  more  deeply  tinged  with 
brown. 


^■f" 


^'??<*«:- 


GREAT   HORNED   OWL. 

CAT   OWL. 
r>LI!()   VIK(;iNl.\NUS. 

CiiAR.  Plumage  very  variable,  of  mottled  lilack,  liL;lu  ami  dark 
blown,  buff,  and  tawny.  A  white  band  on  the  throat,  and  a  white  stripe 
iIdwu  ihe  breast, — the  latter  sometimes  obscure.  l'",ar-tufts  large  and 
Loiispicutius ;  legs  and  toes  feathered.     Length  iS  tn  25  iiuius. 

.\'('i/.  Sometimes  within  a  hollow  tree,  but  usually  en  an  upjjcr  limb. 
A  deserted  nest  of  Crow  or  Hawk  is  often  used,  and  then  it  is  a  clumsy, 
Inilky  affair  of  sticks,  lined  with  feathers 

/•.',.;>.     2-3;  white  and  nearly  spherical  ;  2.20  X  i.So. 

This  s])ecies,  so  nearly  related  to  the  (Ireat  i'.ared  Owl  uf 
Kumpe,    is   met   with   occasionally    from    Htulson's   15ay   to 


62 


lilKDS  OF   I'KEV. 


Florida,  and  in  Oregon  ;  it  exists  even  beyond  the  Ironies, 
being  very  jjrobably  the  same  bird  ilcscribed  by  Marcgravc  as 
inhabiting  the  forests  of  IJrazil.  All  climates  are  alike  to  this 
I'^agle  of  the  night,  the  king  of  the  nocturnal  tribe  of  Amerii  m 
birds.  'I'he  aboriginal  inhabitants  of  the  country  dread  his 
boding  howl,  dedicating  his  effigies  to  their  solemnities,  and,  as 
if  he  were  their  sacred  bird  of  Minerva,  forbid  the  mockery  nt" 
his  ominous,  dismal,  and  almost  supernatural  cries.  His  favor- 
ite resort,  in  the  dark  and  imjjenetrable  swampy  forests,  wIkr' 
he  dwells  in  chosen  solitude  secure  from  the  approach  of  ew  ry 
enemy,  agrees  with  the  melancholy  and  sinister  traits  of  his 
character.  To  the  surrounding  feathered  race  he  is  the  l'liit(j 
of  the  gloomy  wilderness,  and  would  scarcely  be  known  out  of 
the  dismal  shades  where  he  hides,  but  to  his  victims,  were  he 
as  silent  as  he  is  solitary.  Among  the  choking,  loud,  guttural 
sounds  which  he  sometimes  inters  in  the  dead  of  night,  ;uiil 
with  a  suddenness  which  always  alarms,  because  of  his  noisLk^s 
approach,  is  the  '7Lur/o^/i  ho!  ^icani^h  ho.'  which,  Wilscju  re- 
marks, was  often  uttered  at  the  instant  of  sweeping  down 
around  his  camp-fire.  Many  kinds  of  Owls  are  similarly  daz- 
zled and  attracted  by  fire-lights,  and  occasionally  HndinL;.  iiu 
doubt,  some  offal  or  flesh  thrown  out  by  those  who  encamii  in 
the  wilderness,  they  come  round  the  nocturnal  blaze  with  other 
motives  than  barely  those  of  curiosity.  The  solitary  travellers 
in  these  wilds,  apparently  scanning  the  sinister  motive  of  hi< 
visits,  pretend  to  interi)ret  his  address  into  ^''ll'ho  \-ook.<  for 
you  a// y  and  with  a  strong  guttural  pronunciation  of  the  fnial 
syllable,  to  all  those  who  have  heard  this  his  common  cry.  tb.e 
resemblance  of  sound  is  well  hit,  and  instantly  recalls  the 
ghastly  serenade  oi  his  nocturnal  majesty  in  a  manner  wliirh 
is  not  easily  forgotten.  The  shorter  cry  which  we  have 
mentioned  makes  no  mc(;nsiderable  approach  to  that  uttered 
by  the  luiropean  brother  of  our  sj)ecies,  as  given  by  lluffon, 
namely,  'hc-hoo,  ^hoo-hoo,  boo-hoo,  etc.  The  Greeks  called  ihia 
transatlantic  species  Bym,  either  from  its  note  or  from  the 
resemblance  this  bore  to  the  bellowing  of  the  ox.  The  l.;itin 
name  Bubo  has  also  reference  to  the  same  note  of  this  noc- 


CIREAT   HORNED   OWL. 


63 


turnal  binl.  According  to  Krisch,  who  kept  one  of  thcst-  birds 
alive,  its  cries  varied  according  to  circumstances  ;  when  hungry 
it  luiil  a  nulling  cry  like  J^uhii.  I  have  reniarkeil  the  young, 
iirobahly,  cjf  our  species  utter  the  same  low,  ([uailing  cry,  while 
yet  daylight,  as  it  sat  on  the  low  branch  of  a  tree  ;  the  sound 
(if  both  is,  at  times,  also  not  unlike  that  made  by  the  Hawks  or 
diurnal  birds  of  prey.  Indeetl,  in  gloomy  weather  I  have  seen 
our  species  on  the  alert,  flying  about  many  hour^  before  dark, 
anil  uttering  his  call  of '/(v  ko,  ko  ko  ho.  Their  usual  i)rey  is 
young  rabbits,  sipiirrcls,  rats,  mice,  ()uails,  and  small  birds  of 
various  kinds;  and  when  these  resources  fail  cjr  diminish,  the\- 
occasionally  prowl  pretty  boldly  around  the  farm-yard  in  (piest 
of  Chickens,  which  they  seize  on  the  roost.  Indeed  the  Euro- 
pean Horned  Owl  frequently  contends  with  the  liu/zard  for  its 
prey,  and  generally  comes  off  conipieror ;  blind  and  infuriate 
with  hunger,  one  of  these  has  been  known  to  dart  even  upon 
a  111  an.  as  if  for  conflict,  and  was  killed  in  the  encounter.  My 
friiiid  I  )r.  I'.oykin.  of  Milledgeville,  in  (leorgia,  assured  me  that 
(Hir  iif  our  own  daring  nocturnal  adventurers,  jjrowling  rouml 
lii>  jireniises,  saw  a  cat  dozing  on  the  roof  of  a  smoke-house, 
and  supposing  grimalkin  a  more  harmless,  rabbit-like  animal 
than  appeared  in  the  seipiel,  blindly  snatched  her  u])  in  his 
ta.lons ;  but  finding  he  had  caught  a  'Tartar,  it  was  not  long  be- 
t'nre  lie  allowed  i)iiss  once  more  to  tread  the  ground.  In 
i!iiuland  the  same  ernjr  was  committed  by  an  Ivigle,  who, 
attiT  a  severe  conflict  with  a  cat  he  had  carried  into  the  air, 
\va>  at  length  brought  to  the  ground  before  he  could  disengage 
liiui-.elf  from  the  feline  grasp. 

An  Owl  of  this  si)ecies,  which  I  have  observed  in  a  cage, 
appeared  very  brisk  late  in  the  morning,  hissed  and  blew  when 
aiiiiruachetl  with  a  stick,  and  dashed  at  it  very  heedlessly  with 
lii^  bill  :  he  now  and  then  uttered  a  ^ko-ko/i,  and  was  pretty 
loud  in  his  call  at  an  earlier  hour.  When  approached,  he  cir- 
culady  contracted  the  iris  of  the  eyes  to  obtain  a  clearer  view 
of  the  threatened  object ;  he  also  listened  with  great  cpiickness 
to  any  sound  which  occurred  near  his  i)rison,  and  eyed  the 
living  Pigeons,  which  passed  by  at  some  distance,  with  a  scruti- 


^4 


lUKDS   OK   I'RI-V. 


ni/.ing  and  eager  glance.     Wlien  i\-d  he  often  had  the  hahii  of 
hiding  away  liis  siiperlliious  pnnision. 

As  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  observe  the  retiring  manners 
of  this  reehise,  he  shniibers  ont  the  day  chielly  in  the  tlark  tops 
of  lofty  trees.  In  these,  according  to  Wilson,  he  generally  la- 
gins  to  btiild  in  the  month  of  May,  though  probably  earlier  in 
the  Southern  States.  'I'he  nest  is  usually  placed  in  the  fork  of 
a  tree,  made  of  a  considerable  pile  of  sticks,  and  lined  with 
dry  leaves  and  some  feathers  ;  and,  as  a  saving  of  labor,  some- 
times they  select  a  hollow  tree  for  the  purpose. 

Tills  Owl  is  usually  found  in  w<t()il.s  (jf  ratlier  large  growth;  Imt 
Nuttall  slightly  exaggerated  in  naming  the  "dark  and  impenetrable 
swampy  forest"  as  its  "favorite  resort."  Throughout  the  Mari- 
time I'rovinces  it  is  found  on  the  outskirts  of  settlements,  as  well 
as  in  the  wilderness. 

An  interesting  aecount  of  the  habits  of  this  species  in  captivitv, 
from  the  note-book  of  Mr.  James  W.  Banks,  of  St.  John,  N.  li.. 
ajjpeared  in  "The  Auk  "  for  April,  1S84. 


Note.  —  There  are  two  geographical  races  of  this  species  that 
should  be  named  here.  'I'he  Dl'SKV  IbjUN'KD  Owi,  (/>'.  77V;'/- 
Jii'tiniis  S(i/iti(iftis),-,\n  extremely  dark  form,  occurs  in  Labrador,  .iiid 
is  found  also  on  the  coast  of  the  Northwest.  The  Wksti  kn 
IIoKNKi)  (JwL  (/>'.  7'//\i^///i(i/ius  siilhircd'ciis),  a  light-gray  form,  is 
usually  restricted  to  the  middle  faunal  province,  but  has  been  taken 
in  Illinois  and  Wisconsin. 


GRE.VT   CRAY   OWL. 

Ului,.\  CIXr.REA. 

Char.  Above,  sooty  brown  nintflcd  witli  irregular  bars  of  dull  giav; 
below,  p.iler  tints  of  same  colors  in  wavy  stripes.  No  ear-tufts.  I'he 
largest  of  the  Owls.     Length,  23  to  30  inches. 

AV.r/.     In  a  tree. 

Ek^s.     2-3;  white;  2.15  X  1.70. 

This  is  the  largest  American  species  known,  and  if  the  S. 
lapponica,  common  also  to  the  Arctic  circle,  and  seldom  leav- 
ing it,  being  only  accidental  about  Lake  Superior,  and  otca- 


(JKKAT  (JUAV   cnvi. 


r,i()iially  scon  in  Massachusetts  in  the  di-pth  of  si'vcre  wintrrs. 
Oiu-  was  caiii^ht  piTihcd  on  a  wood-pilr,  in  i  staU'  of  listless 
iiiiiiivity.  in  the  morning  afti-r  (laylii;lu.  at  Marhlehead,  in 
1  iliiiury,  \>^^l.  'I  liis  indi\iihial  survived  for  scver.d  niouihs. 
and  showed  a  great  partiality  for  fish  and  birds.  At  liuus  he 
uiirinl  a  tremulous  cry  or  /lo  ho  ho  ho  hoo,  not  very  dissimilar 
til  ili.it  of  ihe  Mottled  Owl.  At  Hudson's  l!ay  and  Labrador 
iluse  Owls  reside  the  whole  year,  and  were  found  in  the  Ore- 
gon territory  by  Mr.  'I'ownsend.  'I'hey  associate  in  pairs,  lly 
aid  feed  on  mice  and  hares,  which  thev  sei/.e  with 


very  low 

smh  muscular  vigor  as  sometimes  to  sink  into  the  snow  aftiT 
them  a  foot  deep.  With  ease  they  are  able  to  carry  off  the 
alpine  hare  alive  in  their  talons.  In  l'airo])C  the  species  ap- 
])e,irs  wholly  confined  to  the  desert  regitjns  of  l.aijlaiul.  two  or 
lime  stragglers  being  all  that  have  been  obtained  out  of  that 
country  by  naturalists. 

I  »r.  Kichardson  says  that  it  is  by  no  means  a  rare  bird  in  the 
fur  (ountries,  being  an  inhabitant  of  all  the  wooily  districts 
IviiiL;  lietween  Lake  Superior  and  latitudes  Oy'-'  or  6.S°  and 
between  Hudson's  \\i\y  and  the  Lacafic.  It  is  common  on 
the  borders  of  (Ireat  Dear  Lake  ;  and  there,  and  in  the  higher 
jiirallels  of  latitude,  it  must  pursue  its  prey,  during  the  summer 
iiMiuhs,  by  daylight.  It  keeps,  however,  within  the  woods,  and 
(!i)LS  not  fre(iuent  the  barren  grounds,  like  the  Snowy  ( )wl.  nor 
ii  ii  so  often  met  with  in  broad  daylight  as  the  1  lawk  ( )wl,  but 
hunts  principally  when  the  stm  is  low,  —  indeed,  it  is  only  at  such 
tiiius,  when  the  recesses  of  the  woods  are  deeply  shadowed, 
that  the  American  hare  and  the  marine  animals  on  which  the 
Cinereous  Owl  chiefly  preys,  come  forth  to  '[>.'t:i.\.  ( )n  the  23d 
of  May  1  discovered  a  nest  of  this  Owl,  built  on  the  to])  of  a 
lofty  Ixilsam  poplar,  of  sticks,  and  lined  with  leathers.  It  con- 
tained three  young,  which  were  covered  with  a  whitish  ilown. 

Tlic  capture  in  New  England  of  several  examples  of  this  species 
has  lieiMi  recorded.  During  the  winter  of  i8Sy-yo,  a  number  were 
seen  ainng  the  northern  border  of  these  States  and  in  the  southern 
poitidiis  of  Canada.  Mr.  .Mellwrailh  reported  that  a  large  number 
had  IiLcn  taken  near  Hamilton. 


Vi  il 


I.   s 


mmaamr 


I.OXr.-EARED   OWL. 

ASK)    WU.SONIANTS. 

Char.  Above,  finelv  mottled  with  dark  brown,  dull  buff,  and  grav; 
brcasi  siniilar,  but  of  reddish  tint ;  lielly  paler,  with  dark  markings.  K.ir- 
tufts  la rj^e  ;  toes  featliered.     I-ength  15  inches. 

AVst.  Usually  in  a  tree;  of  twigs,  lined  with  grass  and  fcatliers 
Sometimes  a  deserted  Crow's  or  Hawk's  nest  is  used. 

/i'vVJ.     3-6;  white  and  oval ;   1.65  X  l-jO. 

This  si)ecies,  like  several  others  of  the  genus,  appears  \"  \«- 
almost  a  deni/en  of  the  world,  being  fotuid  from  Hudson's  l'>;iy 
to  the  West  Indies  and  Urazil,  throughout  Kurope,  in  Afriia, 
northern  Asia,  and  probably  China,  in  all  which  coinitriis 
it  appears  to  be  resident,  but  sei  ms  more  abundant  in  crriaiii 
])laces  in  winter,  following  rats  and  mice  to  their  retreats  in  nr 
near  houses  and  l)arns.  It  also  preys  upon  small  birds,  ami 
in  summer  destroys  beetles.  It  commonly  lodges  in  miiKil 
buildings,  the  caverns  of  rocks,  or  in  hollow  trees.     It  dcicml: 


LONG-EARED  UWL. 


itself  with  great  spirit  from  the  attacks  of  larger  birds,  making 
a  rcaily  use  of  its  bill  and  talons,  and  when  wounded  is  dan- 
gcmus  and  resolute. 

The   I-ong-lvired   Owl   seldom,   if  ever,  takes   the   troul)le 
to  construct  a  nest  of  its  own  ;  it  seeks  shelter  amidst  ruins 
and  in  the  accidental  hollows  of  trees,  and  rests  content  with 
thr  dilapidated  nursery  of  the  Crow,  the  Magjiie.  that  of  the 
W  I'l'l  rigeon,  of  the  Buzzard,  or  e\L-n  the  tufted  retreat  of  the 
squirrel.     'IVue   to   these   habits,   U'ilson   found  one  (jf  tlu'se 
()\\i>  sitting  on  her  eggs  in  the  deserted  nest  of  the  (Jua  IJird, 
on  ihc  25th  of  .\pril,  six  or  seven  miles  below  I'hiladclpiiia,  in 
the  midst  of  the  gloomy  cnswamped  forest  whi' h   formed   the 
ibual  resort  of  these  solitary  Herons.    So  well  satisfied  was  she 
ill  i.K  t  with  her  company,  and  s(}  jjcaceable,  that  one  of  the  (Juas 
had  a  nest  in  the  same  tree  with  the  Owl.     'IIk-  young,  until 
neatly  fully  grown,  are  grayish  white,  and  roost  close  together 
on  a  large  branch  during  the  day,  sheltered  and  hid  amidst  the 
thickest  foliage  ;  they  ac(iuire  their  natural  color  in  about  fifteen 
(hu>.     besides  mice  and  rats,  this  species  also  ])reys  on  field- 
mice,  moles,  and  be«...'.es.     The  plaintive  cry  or  hollow  moan- 
inu'  made   by  this   bird,   ^' c'o-io  cloiiJr    incessantly   relocated 
during  the  night,  so  as  to  be  troublesome  where  they  fre(|uent, 
is  very  attractive  to  the  larger  birds,  who  out  of  curiosity  and 
for  jtersecution  assemble  around  this  s])ecies  when  em])loyed 
as  a  I'.ecoy,  and  are  thus  shot  or  caught  by  limed  twigs. 

This  Owl  occurs  throughout  temperate  Xortli  America,  and  is  a 
common  resident  everywhere  excepting  along  the  northern  limit  of 
its  range,  where  it  is  less  abundant,  and  appears  in  summer  only. 


SHORT-EARED    OWE.      . 

ASIO    ACCIITIRINUS. 

CllAK.  Above,  mottled  with  dark  !>ro\vn,  tawny,  and  buttish  while; 
below,  paler  ;  feet  featiieied  ;  eartufts  ineonspicuuns.  Some  example- 
are  much  paler,  as  if  the  colors  iiad  faded.     Length  about  15  inehe--. 

A'lSt.  On  the  ground  amid  tall  grass,  and  composed  of  a  few  twi;,^  ami 
a  few  feathers. 

J\k:ks-    3-6  ;  while  and  oval  ;  1.60  X  1.20. 

This  is  another  of  those  nocturnal  wanderers  which  now  ami 
then  arrive  amongst  us  from  the  northern  regions,  where  ihey 
usually  breed.  It  comes  to  Hudson's  Hay  from  the  .'^  mth 
about  May,  where  it  makes  a  nest  of  dry  grass  on  the  groiiml. 
and,  as  usual,  has  white  eggs.  After  rearing  its  brood  n  de- 
parts for  the  South  in  September,  and  in  its  migration^  h> 
been  met  with  as  far  as  New  Jersey,  near  Philadelphia,  where, 
according  to  Wilson,  it  arrives  in  November  and  departs  in 
April.     Pennant   remarks  that   it  has  been   met  with  in  the 


""■s  is  one 
iii'eeds  ill  ;,1]  f 
"'"•til  i„  tin,  ,■ 

•1"^'  west  to  th 


SIIORT-KAREI)    OWL. 


G<) 


southern  continent  of  America  at  the   I'aikland  Islands,     It  is 
likewise  spread  throuL^^h  every  part  of  luirope,  and  is  coninu)!! 
ill  ;ill  the  forests  of  Siberia;  it  also  visits  the  Orkney  I^l.inds 
ai!<l   1(  eland,  and  we  have  observed  it  at  Atooi,  one  of  the 
SaiiiUvirli  Islands,  in  the  Pacific,  as  well  as  in  the  territory  of 
Ort\^'on.     In  lav^land  it  appears  and  disapi)ears  with  the  nii- 
rjrations  of  the  ^\"oodcock.    Its  food  is  almost  exclusively  mice, 
for  which  it  watches,  seated  on  a  stuni]),  with  all  the  vii^ilance 
of  a  cat,  listening  attentively  to  the  low  s([ueak  of  its  prey, 
tu   wjiich  it  is  so  much  alive  as  to  be  sometimes  brougiit  in 
si,i;hi  bv  imitating  the  sound.     It  is  readily  attracted  by  the 
hla/e  (if  no<nurnal  fires,  and  on  such  occasions  has  sometimes 
JKid  the  blintl  temerity  to  attack  men,  and  come  so  close  to 
coiiihat  as  to  be  knocked  down  with  sticks,     ^\'hen  wounded 
it  aUo   disjilays    the    same  courageous  ferocity,  so  as    to   be 
(i.inucrous  to  approach.      In  dark  and  cloudy  weather  it  some- 
tiiius    \entures    abroad    by   daylight,   takes  short   fiights,    and 
when  sitting  and  looking  sharply  round,  it  erects  the  short,  car- 
like  tufts  of  feathers  on  the  head  which  are  at  other  times 
scarcely  visible.     Like  all  other  migrating  birds,  roving  indif- 
ferently over  the  country  in  quest  of  food  r.lone,  these  ( )\vls 
have  sometimes  been  seen  in  considerable  numbers  together; 
ile\vi{  k    even   remarks   that  28  of  them   had  been  counted  at 
om  e  in  a  turnip-field  in  England.     They  are  also  numerous  in 
Ilnlland  in  the  months  of  September  and  October,  and  in  all 
( uiiiUries  are  serviceable  for  the  destruction  they  make  among 
house  and  field   mice,   their  principal    food.      Although   they 
Ubually  breed  in  high  ground,  they  have  also  been  observed  in 
I'urope  to  nest  in  marshes,  in  the  nuddle  of  the  high  herbage. 
—  a  situation  chosen  both  for  safety  and  solitude. 

'I'liis  is  one  of  the  commonest  of  the  New  Ijigl.uul  ( >\vLs,  aiul 
lii'L-ei's  ill  all  the  suitable  marsh  land  along  llie  coast.  It  ranges 
ninth  tn  the  fur  countries,  south  to  tlie  (iult  .States  and  bexond, 
and  west  to  the  Pacific. 


BraDKi 


BARRED   OWL. 

HOOT  OWL. 

Syrxium  neisulosum. 

Char.  Above,  brown  barred,  spotted,  and  striped  with  dull  gray  '  i 
tawny;  below,  similar  colors  of  paler  tints;  face,  gray  stripes;  taii 
barred  ;  iris  brownish  black  ;  bill  yellow.      Length   19^4^  to  24  indie-. 

Easily  distinguished  from  all  other  species  by  its  dark  eyes. 

A'l-sf.  Usually  in  a  hollow  tree,  but  often  a  deserted  nest  of  Ciowr 
Hawk  is  re-lined  and  used. 

Egi^'s.     2-4;  white  and  nearly  spherical  ;  i.QS  X  1.65. 

This  species  inhabits  the  northern  regions  of  both  the  ok! 
and  new  continent,  but  witli  this  difference,  as  in  the  DaU 
Eagle,  that  in  the  ancient  continent  it  seldom  wanders  be- 
yond the  Arctic  circle,  being  found  no  farther  to  the  south  than 
Sweden  and  Norway  ;  while  in  .Vnierica  it  dwells  and  breeds 
at  least  in  all  the  intermediate  region  from  Hudson's  bay  to 
Florida,  being  considerably  more  numerous  even  than  ctlur 
species  throughout  the  swamps  and  dark  forests  of  the  South- 


BARRED   OWL 


71 


(,rn  States.  Its  food  is  principally  rabbits,  squirrels,  (Irouse, 
(Jiiails,  rats,  mice,  and  frogs.  From  necessity,  as  well  as  choice, 
these  birds  not  unfrecpiently  ajjpear  around  the  farmdiouse  and 
uMnK'U  in  (juest  of  the  poultry,  ])articularly  young  chickens. 
At  these  limes  they  prowl  abroad  towards  evening,  and  lly  low 
ami  steadily  about,  as  if  beating  for  their  i)rey.  In  Alabama, 
(leor.Ljia,  West  Morida,  and  Louisiana,  where  they  abound,  they 
are  I'lteu  to  be  seen  abroad  by  day,  particularly  in  cloudy 
weather,  and  at  times  even  soar  and  Hy  with  all  the  address  of 
diurnal  birds  of  prey.  Their  loud  guttural  call  of  'Xv//  'kch  'ko 
ko,  ho,  or  'wliali  'i^'hali  \ohah  'whah-aa,  may  be  heard  occasion- 
ally both  by  day  and  night,  and  as  a  note  of  rect)gnition,  is 
reailily  answered  when  mimicked,  so  as  to  decoy  the  original 
towards  the  sound.  One  which  I  received,  in  the  month  of 
l)ei  ember  (1830),  was  hovering  over  a  covey  of  (Quails  in  the 
(liy-time  ;  and  though  the  sportsman  had  the  same  aim,  the 
( )\vl  also  joined  the  chase,  and  was  alone  deterred  from  his 
siuiiier  purjjose  by  receiving  the  contents  of  the  gun  intended 
only  for  the  more  fovorite  game.  When  the  yomig  leave  the 
iie-l  they  still  keep  together  fc^r  mutual  warmth  and  safety  in 
the  lii,L;h,  shaded  branches  of  the  trees  where  they  have  prob- 
ably been  hatched.  On  being  approached  by  the  parents, 
the\  utter  a  hissing  call  audible  for  some  distance.  According 
t(»  Audubon,  when  kci)t  in  captivity  they  jirove  very  u>eful 
in  (■  ilcliing  mace.  Their  flesh  is  also  eaten  by  the  Creoles  of 
Louisiana,  and  considered  as  ])alatable. 

An  interesting  article,  containing  tlie'  most  valuable  information 
iv-anling  tlie  hal^its  of  this  Owl  that  has  yet  been  puhlishech  ap- 
pealed in  ■•  The  Auk  "  for  April,  i.S(;o.  Tlio  writer,  .Mr.  Frank  Holies. 
kept  a  pair  for  several  years  ;  and  one  of  tliese,  having  broken  its 
wiiii;.  was  reduced  to  sueli  subjection  that  Mr.  bolles  was  enabled 
to  nial<e  use  of  it  in  hunting  for  otlur  liirds,  and  thus  gained 
nn  in.>iL;ht  into  the  bird's  metliods  that  no  other  nalin'ahst  lias 
equalK-d. 

Xmii:.  -^Thc  Florida  I5.\kui;i)  Owi,  {S.  iirhuio^mn  alh-ni). 
a  xniKwhat  darker  variety,  is  restricted  to  the  (iulf  States  and 
Florichi. 


/  - 


r.iKi)s  OF  rRi:v. 


SA^v-^vHET  ()^vr. 

ACADIAN    OWL. 
NyCI'AI.A    ACAI'UA. 


<"lf  \R.     Above,  (lark 
spotted  with  reddish  hiow 


lavisli  l)i()\vn  spotted  witli  while;  below,  white, 
tail  slinit,  with  tlircc  iiarmw  bands  of  wliili.- 


SJOt.- 


1  omit;  ahiiost  sohd  brown  o 


)f  reddish  lint,  and  face  willi 


markings.     Length  j}^  to  Sj<  inches 

iWi/.    A  hole  in  a  tree  (nften  in  .i  hole  ihnl  has  been  deserted  by  W'ojil- 
peckers),  lined  with  leathers. 

A,',"'-     3-f>  (usually  4) ;  white;   r  20  X  i-oo. 

This  very  small  species  is  believed  to  be  an  inhabitant  of  the 
nurtiiern  regions  of  both  continents,  from  which  in  ICuroia-  it 
seldom  wanders,  bein,LC  even  \erv  rare  in  the  North  of  (lerinniiv. 
In  the  I'nited  States  it  is  not  tniconmion  as  f;ir  to  the  sonti,  ,1- 
I'en  isylvania  .md  New  Jersey,  where  it  is  resident,  havini^mp- 
parcntly  a  prfdilection  for  the  sea-coast,  living  and  nestiim  ir, 
the  ]»ine-trees  or  in  the  (lefts  of  rocks,  and  laying  4  1  !  ; 
wiiite  eggs.  It  is  generallv  noctnrn;il  ;  ;nid  if  accident, .liy 
abroa*!  by  day,  it  flies  (luickly  to  some  shelter  from  the  liuiit. 


It  i 


s  verv  s(jlilarv  in  its  habits,  li\inLC  wholly  in  the  everLMceii 


forest- 


and 


comintr  011 


t  only   towaitls   night   or  early   in  iht 


)er- 


nKjrniiig  in  search  of  mice,  beetles,  moths,  and  grasshopi 

'i'he  note  of  this  species  is  very  different  from  that  of 
S/n\  pd.^st'iiihi,  or   Little  Owl,  to  which   it   is  nearly   rela 
This  latter  kind  has  a  reiterated  cry,  when  llying,  like /.  < 
podpoo.     Another  note,  which  it  utters  sitting,  a])i)ears  so  1 
like  the  human  voice  calling  out  a}iiii\  hi  111?,  iJiiic,  that  aci 
ing  to  liuffon,  it  deceived  one  of  his  servants,  who  lod 


ilv. 


loi. 


mil 


LTnl 


\\\(\  wakiii. 


one  of  the  old  tiurets  of  the  castle  of  Montbard 
him  up  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  with  this  singul 
he  opened  the  window  and   called  out,  ''Who' s  iJior  bi 
J/r  iiiUiic  is  iioi  l^l).^^■,.  but  Peter .'  " 


ir  crv. 


'I'lie    Saw-whet 


•  ca 


lied 


so  from  its  note,  wiiich  rcsoin 


bK 


fiiin^i  of  a  saw  —  breeds  from  the  .Middle  Slates  northward  to  about 
latitude  50°,  but  is  not  an  abundant  bird  anvwherc. 


<'I!.AR.     . 

"i!li  browr 

wlu-t,  but  w 

Xc.<!.     I, 

/^,V^.       2- 

'I'his  is 

«iuii  it  ac 

/Ic'l   by  th 

"■!i(  11  surj): 

It>  iKictitrr 

;it  the  long 

siiperstitioi 

it:  and  if  t 

lengi'.  the  .^ 

aia.iiig  the 

tile  bird  of 

''!-.  it  build: 


RICHARDSON'S   OWL. 

SPARROW   OWL. 
NVCIALA     illNd.MALMl    RKIIARDSOXI. 

CiiAR.  Above,  dark  brown  spotted  with  white;  bene.ith.  white  strc.iked 
wiih  brown;  legs  and  feet  l)uffy,  sometimes  sjiotied.  -Siniilai  t(j  ihe  Saw- 
\\ln.t,!iut  with  more  white  on  liead  and  neck.     Length  9  u>  12  inches. 

AV./.     In  a  tree  ;  of  grass  and  leaves. 

/■:--s.     2-4;  white;  1.35  X  1.15- 

This  is  a  small  and  nocturnal  species,  and  so  much  so  that 
whni  it  accidentally  wanders  abroad  by  day  it  is  so  much  daz- 
/Kd  l)y  the  light  as  to  be  rendered  unable  to  make  its  escape 
whi.li  surjirisetl,  and  may  then  be  readily  caught  by  the  hand. 
Its  nocturnal  cry  consists  of  a  single  melancholy  note  repeated 
at  the  long  intervals  of  a  minute  or  two  :  and  it  is  one  of  the 
superstitious  practices  of  the  Indians  to  whistle  when  they  hear 
it;  and  if  the  bird  remains  silent  after  this  interrogatory  chal- 
Icngi'.  the  speedy  death  of  the  intjuirer  is  augured  ;  and  hence 
araung  the  Crees  it  has  acquired  the  omnious  ai)])ellati()n  (jf 
the  llird  of  Death  {C/i('t'/'<>iiicsics) .  .\ccording  to  M.  Hutch- 
ins,  ii  builds  a  nest  of  grass  half  way  up  a  pine-tree,  and  lays 


74 


BIRDS   OF  T'REY. 


2  eggs  in  the  montli  of  May.  It  feeds  on  mice  and  beetle:. 
It  i)rol)ably  inhabits  all  the  forests  of  the  fur  countries  from 
(Ireat  vSlave  Lake  to  the  United  States.  On  the  banks  of  the 
Saskatchewan  it  is  so  common  that  its  voice  is  heard  almost 
every  night  by  the  traveller  wherever  he  may  select  his  cani]). 
It  inhabits  the  woods  along  the  streams  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains down  to  the  Oregon,  and  betrays  but  little  suspicion 
when  approached. 

Ricliardson's  Owl  is  usually  a  rare  winter  visitor  to  the  Maritime 
Provinces;  but  Mr.  C.  IJ.  Cory  foundit  common  and  breeding  on 
the  Magdalene  Islands,  and  a  few  examples  have  been  taken  in 
New  Brunswick  in  summer. 

It  is  common  on  the  north  shore  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence, 
tliough  rare  near  the  city  of  (Quebec;  it  occurs  sparingly  in  winter 
along  the  northern  border  of  Xew  England  and  in  southern  Onta- 
rio, and  occasionally  straggles  to  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut. 
Thompson  reports  it  common  in  Manitoba. 


BARN    OWL. 

S'IRIX    PR:\TINCOI,A. 

Thar.  Colors  extremely  variable.  Above,  usually  yellowish  tawuy  or 
oiangc  browu,  clouded  with  darker  tints  and  spotted  with  white  ;  beneath, 
btitiish  with  dark  sjiots ;  face  white,  tinged  with  tawny;  bill  whitish. 
Sonic  examples  have  but  little  marking  on  the  back,  and  tlie  face  and 
l"\\cr  parts  are  jiure  white.  Easily  distinguished  frnm  (jtlier  ( )wls  by 
peculiar  facial  disc.     Length  15  io  21  inches. 

.W.r/.  In  barn  or  church  tower  or  hollow  tree,  —  usually  the  last.  The 
c-us  are  laid  upon  a  mat  of  loosely  laid  twigs  and  weed-stems  or  grass. 

/■i^,-.u     3-1 1  ;  white;  1.75  X  1.30. 

'I'hcrc  is  scarcely  any  part  of  the  world  in  which  this  com- 
nvin  >pecies  is  not  found  :  oxtcndiuLj  v\\:n  to  l)otli  sides  of  the 
equator,  it  is  met  with  in  New  llollamK  India,  and  Jirazil.  It 
is  perhaps  nowhere  more  rare  than  in  this  i)art  of  the  United 
States,  and  is  only  met  with  in  I'eimsylvania  And  New  Jersey 
in  culd  and  severe  winters.  Nor  is  it  e\"er  so  familiar  as  in 
1  aiiope,    frequenting    ahiiost    tniiformly    the  hollows  of  trees. 


76 


r.TRDS   or    VKV.W 


In  the  old  continent  it  is  almost  domestic,  inhabiting  even  \)()\>- 

ul(Jiis  towns,  and   is  particulaiiy  attaihed   to   towers,  hi'ltVii^ 

the  roofs  of  churches,  and  other  lofty  buildinL^s,  which  affoid 

it  a   retreat   durinL,^  the    day.     The  elegant,  grai)hic  lines  uf 

dray,  describing  its  n^niantic  haunt,  are  in  the  recollection  <>( 

cverv  one,  — 

"  Froin  ynmlcr  ivy-iiKuilkd  tower 
'I'lu;  niDijiiiL;  (Jwl  {loL'ft  to  ilu'  moon  (.oinplaiii 
Of  sucli  ;is,  \vaii(k'rii\i;  near  licr  suLict  bower, 
Molest  licr  ancient  solitary  reii;n  " 

Superstition  laiil  aside,  these  Owls  render  essential  service  to 
the  farmer  by  destroying  mice,  rats,  and  shrews,  whi(  h  ink  ^i 
houses  and  barns;  they  als(j  catch  bats  and  beetles,  'lluv 
likewise  clear  churches  of  such  \ermin,  and  now  and  tluii, 
pressed  by  hunger,  they  have  been  known  to  sij),  or  rather  lmI. 
the  oil  from  the  lamps  when  congealed  by  ccjld.  A  sliU  imm 
extraordinary  appetite,  attribiUt-d  to  them,  is  tliat  of  cat(  h 
ing  fish,  on  which  they  fed  their  voracious  young.  In  autuuiii 
also  they  have  been  known  to  pay  a  nightly  visit  to  the  phu  i  > 
where  springes  were  laid  for  Woodcocks  and  Thrushes.  The 
former  ihey  killed  and  ate  on  the  spot ;  but  sometimes  carried 
off  the  Thrushes  and  smaller  birds,  which,  like  mice,  they  either 
swallowed  entire,  rejecting  the  indigestible  parts  by  the  bill, 
or  if  too  large,  they  plucked  off  the  feathers  and  then  bolted 
them  whole,  or  only  took  them  down  piecemeal. 

In  fine  weather  they  venture  out  into  the  neighboring  woods 
at  night,  returning  to  their  usual  retreat  at  the  approach  of 
morning.  When  they  first  sally  from  their  holes,  their  e\(-' 
hardly  well  ojK-ned,  they  fiy  tmnbling  along  almost  to  the 
ground,  and  usually  proceed  side- ways  in  their  course,  hi 
severe  seasons,  5  or  6,  probably  a  family  brood,  are  discos - 
ered  in  the  same  retreat,  or  concealed  in  the  fodder  of  the 
barn,  where  they  find  shelter,  warmth,  and  food.  The  liarn 
Owl  droi)s  her  eggs  in  the  bare  holes  of  walls,  in  the  joists 
of  houses,  or  in  the  hollows  of  decayed  trees,  and  sj)reails 
no  lining  to  receive  them  ;  they  are  3  to  5  in  number,  of  a 
whitish  color,  and  rather  long  than  round. 


W 
tliey 
in_;  I) 
it  is  M 

l)(i\s 

de.ifci 

tliiis  h 

.ihilily 

nider  t 

tliis  |ii 

the  oil 

i:ipti\L' 

<)!'  liheri 

••■lit   tVoii 

(>•  I   lu 

1I1''IH-1    i 

I'iids  jjs 
.*■//'//'■,  s/i 

IlO(  lt\'. 

The  u 
growth,  a 
f.it  and  ] 
douiu-  a.' 
Hudson's 
wix'  cater 

The  liar 
"■anh  tlini: 
(-■vaiiiplcs  1 
•Mr.  AIcUw 


DAKX   OWL 


// 


When  out  abroad  by  day,  like  most  of  the  other  spcrios, 
they  arc  numt'roiisly  attended  l)y  the  Uttle  L^ossipini;  and  nisnll- 
iiiLi  birds  of  tlie  neiL,'ld)orhuod  ;  and  to  add  to  their  distraction, 
it  is  not  an  unconimon  practice,  in  the  North  of  Mnuland,  for 
Ih.\s  to  set  up  a  shout  and  follow  the  ( )\vl,  who  beconies  so 
■  lijiiiied  and  stunned  as  at  times  nearly  to  fall  down,  and 
thus  become  an  easy  prey  to  his  jH-rsecutors.  And  the  ])rob- 
ahiliiy  of  such  an  effect  will  not  be  surprising  when  we  con- 
sider the  delicacy  and  magnitude  of  the  auditory  a])paratus  of 
this  bird,  the  use  of  which  is  probabi}-  necessary  to  discover 
the  otherwise  silent  retreats  of  their  tiny  i)rey.  When  taken 
I  ,i|)tive.  according  to  lluffon,  they  do  not  long  survive  tlie  loss 
ul'  lilnrty,  and  pertinaciously  refuse  to  cat,  —  a  habit  very  differ- 
(.1)1  from  that  of  the  young  Red  Owl,  who  allowed  himself  to 
fetd  from  my  hand,  an<l  tugged  greedily  and  tamely  at  the 
uKirsel  held  out  to  him  until  he  got  it  in  his  ])ossession  ;  small 
birds  also  he  would  instantly  grasp  in  his  talons,  and  hiss  and 
s/i(rii',  shall',  when  any  atteni[)t  was  made  to  depri\e  liim  of  his 
buiity. 

'ilic  young  of  this  s])ecies,  when  they  have  just  attained  their 
growth,  are,  in  France,  considered  good  food,  as  they  are  then 
fit  and  plump.  When  first  hatched  they  are  so  white  and 
downy  as  almost  entirely  to  resemble  a  powder  i)uff.  At 
Hudson's  Bay  a  large  Owl,  resembling  tlie  cinereous,  is  like- 
\vi>e  eaten,  and  esteemed  a  delicacy,  ac(  ording  to  I'cnnant. 

'I'hi.'  barn  Owl  occurs  regularly  from  the  .Middle  States  soutli- 
ward.  tiiough  it  is  not  al)undant  norlli  ol  South  Carolina.  .V  few 
examples  have  been  taken  in  Connecticut  and  .Massacluisetts,  and 
.Mr.  .Mellwraith  reports  that  four  iiave  been  taken  in  Ontario. 


IS" 


mmm 


I-'LURIDA    JiL'RROWINC,    OWL. 

Sl'I'.OIV'IO    CUMl  ri.AKIA    ri.oKlltANA. 

Char.  Above,  _<j,r;ivisli  lnowii  spotted  and  l);uicd  witli  white;  below, 
pale  bullish  l)arred  with  brown;  a  patcii  of  white  on  tiic  breast;  legs  loii^ 
and  slender,  and  covered  with  biittish  bristles.    Length  about  lo  inche^^ 

XiSt.  At  the  end  of  a  burrow  in  the  ground,  lined  with  grass  and 
feathers. 

A;y;'-j.  4-10;  white,  varying  in  shape,  usually  nearly  round;  i.jj 
X    100. 

This  variety,  which  is  found  in  Florida  only,  is  sinallcr  and  linhtrr- 
colored  than  is  the  wcll-kiiowii  bird  of  the  prairies.  In  habits  tlic 
two  differ  little,  the  Florida  hirfls  living  in  coinniunities,  — soinetiiiirs 
several  pairs  in  one  burrow.  —  and  feeding;  on  mice  and  small  biii!>. 
The  tales  related  of  lUirrowing  Owls  and  rattlesnakes  occupyin.; 
the  same  burrow  are  "hunter's  tales,'"  and  lack  confirmation. 

NoTi'.  —  The  Western  form  of  the  IUkkowinc;  Owl  {S.tuni- 
iii/arid  IiypOi^crti.  lias  been  taken  in  ]\rassachusetts :  but  its  oceur- 
rence  to  the  eastward  of  the  Great  Plains  is  accidental. 


stripe  (if  hi 
•tkI  spotted 

lo  iiii  lies. 

.\:/.    M 

■1  meadow ;  , 
/■,.-.    4- 
'•'5  X  .So. 

'Hiis  wel 
''<-''ds  is  not 
'T'l'^'ars  to 
''i^-   frigid 
''i<-'  mild  ta 
In  the  win 


MEADOW    LARK. 

FIELD    LARK. 

StURN'F.I.LV    MAf.NA. 

Char.  Above,  grayish  brown  barred  wiili  l)lack  ;  crown  witli  nudial 
striiii.  Ill  bulT;  lateral  tail-feathers  white;  below  ycllnw,  titles  darker 
and  spotted  with  brown;  black  crescent  on  the  l)rea,-.t.  Length  about 
to  inches. 

X  ■.'.  Made  of  dry  grass  and  placed  amid  a  tuft  of  long  grains  in 
.1  nu-adow  ;  often  covered,  and  the  ojiening  placed  at  the  side 

/■■  ,  f.  4-6;  white,  thickly  spotted  with  reddish  bmwn  and  lilac; 
1. 1 5   X   .80. 

This  well-known  harmless  inhabitant  of  mea(k)ws  and  cA/ 
tields  is  not  only  found  in  every  ])art  of  the  I'nitcd  States,  hut 
ojJiKars  to  be  a  resident  in  all  the  intermediate  region,  from 
the  frigid  latitude  of  53°  and  the  territory  of  Oregon,  to 
the  mild  table-land  of  Mexico  and  the  savannahs  of  (luiana. 
In  the   winter  these  birds  abound  in  Alabama  and  Western 


OBSH 


So 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


Florida  ;  so  that  in  some  degree,  like  tlie  Jays  and  the  k\uiii- 
mate  Starlings,  they  ])artially  migrate  in  (juest  of  food  during 
the  se\erity  of  the  weather  in  the  colder  States.  It  is  not,  Imw- 
ever.  im])rol)al)le  but  that  most  of  the  migrating  families  of  tluse 
birds,  which  we  find  at  this  season,  have  merely  travelled  east- 
ward from  the  cold  Western  plains  that  are  annually  covered 
with  snow.  They  are  now  seen  in  < onsiderable  numbers  in  ainl 
round  the  salt-marshes,  roving  about  in  llocks  of  ten  to  thirty 
or  more,  seeking  the  shelter  of  the  sea-coast,  though  iiDt  in 
such  dense  llocks  as  the  true  Starlings ;  these,  in  the  manner  of 
our  common  IJla  kbirds,  assemble  in  winter  like  dark  clouds, 
moving  as  one  body,  ami  when  about  to  descend,  perform  ]iro- 
gressi\e  circular  evolutions  in  the  air  like  a  phalanx  in  ihe 
order  (jf  battle  ;  and  when  settled,  blacken  the  earth  with  tiuir 
numbers,  as  well  as  stun  the  ears  with  their  chatter.  Like 
Oows  also,  they  seek  the  shelter  of  reetl- marshes  to  ])ass  tiic 
night,  and  in  the  day  take  the  benefit  of  every  sunny  and  .ilnl- 
tered  covert. 

Our  Starling,  like  the  American  ()uail,  is  sociable,  and  sonn- 
what  gregarious;  and  though  many,  no  doubt,  wander  simic 
disiance  after  food,  yet  a  (vw,  in  Pennsylvania  as  well  a^  \n 
this  rigorous  climate,  may  be  seen  m  the  market  after  the 
ground  is  covered  with  snow.  Wilson  even  observed  tli.in 
in  the  month  of  February,  during  a  deep  snow,  among  liu 
heights  of  the  Alleghanies,  gleaning  their  scanty  i)ittance  on 
the  road,  in  company  with  the  small  Snow  lUrds. 

The  flesh  of  our  bird  is  white,  and  for  size  and  delicacy  it  is 
<onsidered  little  inferior  to  the  Partridge  ;  but  that  of  the  luiro- 
pean  species  is  black  and  bitter. 

The  flight  of  these  Larks  is  laborious  and  steady,  like  that 
of  the  (^uail,  with  the  action  of  the  wings  renewed  at  short  in- 
tervals. They  often  alight  on  trees,  and  select  usually  the  main 
branches  or  topmost  twigs  on  which  to  perch,  though  their  food 
is  commonly  collected  from  the  ground.  At  various  times  of 
the  day,  and  nearly  through  the  winter,  in  the  milder  States, 
their  very  peculiar  lisi)ing.  long,  and  rather  melancholy  note  is 
heard  at  short  intervals  ;  and  without  the  variations,  which  arc 


noi  n 

ing.ir 

or  Au 

(-■nt/'y  \ 

in  tile 

she  ri^( 

gntlura 

\vingc(| 

not(.'>  HI 

tolli-s   o 
llsjlillir 

is  a   ino 

'i'lplcasa 

fa(  ijIh'  ,, 

as  uv  \v 

'••''li^lish, 

uitliiii  his 

V'/  <'.'>/,  / 

;i(ior. led   > 

'^r-i]'hu-  pc 

■\t    the.. 

jfalons  (li.^ij 

uiiidi  ilcri 

'^■niit\-,  and 

'■'-■•'eiition  0 

>^i'-.\   grass, 

iisnally  fo,-n: 

'nthcrcd  gn 

I'lth  is  ,„;„i^ 

"Illy  to  ],^,  i^^ 

I  ho     (..o-cr^ 

'''lie.  almost 

J'lark.d  with 

""■■foirs  at   (h 

''I'kor  points 

""^■'1    raise    iv 

\o|,.     I,   


MEADOW    LARK, 


8 1 


nut  mconsidcrablc,  bears  some  rese.nl)lanrc  to  the  slender  sin- 
mi,^  and  allecicd  pronunciation  of  rt  s,  ,Ar  ah.  and  /.V,/..  ,■/.,/," 
or  nu  .c/iao  in  a  slou-,  wiry,  shrill  tone,  and  sonielinu's  d,l].r- 
c„t,v  vaned  and  shortened.    The  same  simple  ditty  is  repeated 
...  the  spnng  when  they  associate  in  pairs  ;  the  female  also,  as 
>lu:  ..^e.  or  descends,  at  this  time  n-e,,uently  gives  a  reiterated 
gntt.ual  chirp   or  httrried  twitter,  like  that  of  the  female  Red- 
w.nged  l.lackbird.      I  hav.  likewise  at  tinges  heard  them  utter 
iiwtc.  much  more  musical  and  vigorous,  not  very  unlike  the  fme 
to.ics  of  the  Sky  I.„k;  but  I  can  by  no  means  co.npare  our 
li>pi.,g  songster  with  that  blithe  "harbinger  of  dav  "     There 
■^  a   nmnotonous  affectation   in   the  song  of  our   I.ark   which 
ai.h...s  .ndee.1   sonu^what  allied   to   the  jingling,   though  not 
..P  -sant,  tune  of  the  Starling.    The  Stare,  nmreover,  ha.I  the 
t''«"''y-f  "ii.tatmg  human  speech  (which  ours  has  not   as  fir 
a.  uv  yet  knou'),  and  could  in.linVrentlv  speak  even   French 
l..^|.li^h,  (ierman,    Latin,  and   (Ireek.  or   anv   other    lau^^u.^J 
^vilnm  his  hearing,  and  repeat  short  phrases  ;  'so  that  -  •  I  ca^i^ t 
^ctouU  ca,it^cfout;  says  the  Starling,"  which  accidentallv 
al'-nlnl  Sterne  such  a  beautiful  and  pathetic  subject  for  hi's 
giai'liic  pen,  was  ])robal)ly  no  fit   ;„n. 

At  the  time  of  pairing,  our  I.  .rk  exhibits  a  little  of  the 
Jealous  disposition  of  his  tribe  ;  and  having  settled  the  dispute 
^^'■I'i'  'I'.'ides  his  future  condition,  he  retires  from  his  {rx- 
tcr.ms,  and,  assisted  by  his  mate,  selects  a  thick  tuft  for  the 
rnq.t,(,n  of  his  nest,  which  is  pretty  compact,  made  of  drv 
^viiy  grass,  and  line.l  with  finer  blades  of  the  same  It  is 
"^"■'Hv  iorme.l  with  a  covered  entrance  in  the  stuToun.luvr 
"'t hered  grass,  through  which  a  hid<len  and  almost  windin^ 
I'ltli  -^  i.iade,  and  generally  so  well  conceale.l  that  the  nest  is 
""'y  to  be  lound  when  the  bird  is  Hushed. 

■'■'h'  eggs  are  four  or  five,  white,  with  a  verv  faint  tint  ..f 
i'l"c  a  niost  round,  an<l  rather  large,  for  the  si/e  of  the  binl, 
'"•"■l^^d  with  nmnerous  small  red.Iish-bn.wn  spots,  more  nu- 
•n^r.K.s  at  the  greater  end.  blende.l  with  other  lighter  ;ind 
""•^^^r  points  and  small  spots  of  the  same.  Thev  probablv 
'^ttcn   n,i.e   two   bn.ods   in   the   season.     About    th'e    time   .if 

Vol..    I.  —  (, 


82 


SINGING   DIRDS. 


pairincc,  in  the  latter  end  of  the  month  of  April,  they  have 
a  cal],  like  'A////,  tivec,  the  latter  syllable  in  a  fine  and  slfinkr 
tone.  —  something  again  allied  to  the  occasional  notes  of  the 
Red-winged  L>lackl)ird,  to  which  genus  {^Icterus)  our  Sturiulla 
is  not  very  remotely  allied.  Towards  the  close  of  June  litlk' 
else  is  heard  from  the  species  l)Ut  the  noisy  twitter  of  the 
female,  [)rece<led  by  a  hoarse  and  sonorous  'f'niip  or  y  '//>.  ,ic- 
companied  by  an  impatient  raising  and  lowering  of  the  wini^s, 
and,  in  short,  all  the  unjileasant  and  petulant  actions  of  a 
brood-hen,  as  she  is  now  assiduously  engaged  in  fiisieriiii,' 
and  supi)orting  her  helpless  and  dependent  offspring. 


'["heir  tcxjd  consists  of  the  larvai  of  various  insects,  as 


Wt' 


w(jrm 


s,    becUes,    and    grass-seeds,  to    assist    the    digestion  of 


which  they  swallow  a  considerable  portion  of  gravel.      It 
not  apjjcar  that  these  birds  add  lierries  or  fruits  of  any 
to  their  fare,  like  the  Starling,  but  usually  remain  the  whulc 
summer  in  moist  meadows,  and  in  winter  retire  to  the  < 
grassy  woods,  having  no  inclination  to  rob  the  orchard  or 
den,  and,  except  in  winter,  are  of  a  shy,  timid,  and  ret 
disposition. 


UOLN 

kind 


)])en 
uar- 


inn:? 


In  the  East  the  .Meadow  Lark  seldom  ranges  north  of  latitude  43' 
I  met  with  but  one  example  in  New  Urunswick.  and  learn  that  it  i? 


rare 


near  Montreal.     It  is  common  around  Ottawa  and  throuul 


luut 


southern  Ontario. 


Note.  —  A  larger  and  paler  form,  named  the  Westf.un  .Mi.ad- 
ow  Lark  (^9.  iiiao^iia  nci^lcctii),  occurs  in  Wisconsin,  Illinois,  wvl 
Iowa;  and  Mr.  W.  V..  D.  Scott  has  lately  announced  that  the  biii:> 
found  in  southwestern  Florida  should  be  referred  to  iiicxicam, 
tliL'  Mi:.\u:.\N  ^II■..\I)()W  Lark,  which  is  the  smallest  of  the  tha-.. 

A  stray  f.TARMXd  {Stunuis  7'u/i^^iir/s)  is  said  to  have  wanikia. 
from  Europe  to  ("irecnland;  and  a  T\u)VV]A\.  {/c'/fnts  /c/inis'.i 
South  American  bird,  was  taken  by  Audubon  near  Charlestoii. 
S.  C. 


C'f\'^-    Mai 

'""g'-'-   lifll  n 

'■"i^M he  black 

'•^".^"1  7  to  8  i, 

•'    '■     i'en.sil( 

-^irciiiity  of  br.' 

^=''",^,  'lonschair 
''-■-■•    4-6  ;dl 


ive 

Ihc 
elki 
iUle 

iIk 

ac- 
int;s, 
of  ;i 

v\\  as 
)n  of 

L  iloL's 
•  kind 
wkuk' 
J  open 
or  liar- 
retiiins 


m 


Iwiikvi.'. 


irlcM' 


lu I  ;ri MORI-:  orioli:. 

GOLDEN    KOBIX.     HAXG-NEST.     riRE    lilRD. 

Icterus  cam  hi, a. 

CiiAK.  Male:  head,  neck,  throat,  l)a(;k,  wings,  and  greater  jiart  of 
t,i:l  lii.iik  ;  wing-coverts  and  secondaries  ti|)pcd  with  white  ;    uliicr  [larts 

I -111,:;'.'  I'.iil  and  feet  blue  bhick.  Female:  sniaUor  ami  paler,  some- 
taiKs  ihc  l)lack  reiilaced  by  olive  or  grayish.  Voiing  similar  to  ii-male. 
li-nuih  7  to  S  inches. 

•\'  .'.  Tensile  and  purse-shaped,  6  to  S  inches  (kcp.  -^uspeiulcd  from 
MrLinity  of  branch  to  to  50  feet  from  the  ground,  cnmpost.d  of  yarn, 
-'liiiL;,  horsehair,  grass,  etc.,  woven  into  a  compact  texture. 

/•-Vv'.    4-6  ;  dull  white,  blotched  irregularly  with  dark  brown  ;  .90  X  .60. 


"T  ur'niXTI 


S4 


SINGING   151 RDS. 


These  gay,  lively,  and  brilliant  strangers,  leaving  their  lu- 
bernal  retreat  in  Suulh  America,  appear  in  New  lOngland  aliom 
the  first  week  in  May,  and  mure  than  a  nujnlh  earlier  in  1  nui- 
siana,  according  to  the  observations  of  Audubon.  Theywiiv 
not  seen,  however,  in  West  Florida  by  the  middle  of  Mnidi, 


altliough  vegetation  had  then  so  far  advanced    that  tlie 

in 


were    m    leaf,   and    the    white    flowering    cornel    was 
blossom. 

It  is  here  that  they  i)ass  the  most  interesting  period  of  iluir 
lives ;  and    their    arrival    is    hailed    as   the  sure   harbinger  t,\ 
approaching   summer.      Full   of   life   and   activity,   these   ficrv 
sylphs  are  now  seen  vaulting  and  darting  incessantly  through 
the  lofty  boughs  of  our  tallest  trees ;  appearing  and  vanishing 
with   restless   inciuietude,  and   flashing  at  quick   intervals   intn 
sight   from  amidst  the  tender  waving  foliage,   they  seem  liki- 
living  gems  intended  to  decorate  the  verdant  garment  of  i1k 
new-clad  forest.      But  the  gay   J]altimore  is  neither  itlle  iior 
capricious ;  the  beautiful  small  beetles  and  other  aclive-wiiigcii 
insects  on  which  he  now  principally  feeds  are  in  constant  iiiu 
tion,  and  retjuire   perpetual  address  in  their  capture.     At  fir-t 
the  males  only  arrive,  but  without  appearing  in  flocks  :  tluir 
mates  are  yet  behind,  and  their  social  delight  is  inconiiilctc. 
They  appear  to  feel  this  teni])orary  bereavement,  and  in  slinii 
and  loud  notes  they  fife  out  their  tender  plaints  in  ([uick  sue- 
cessior.,  as  they  pry  and  spring  through  the  shady  boughs  fur 
their  ti;iy  and  eluding  prey.     They  also  now  sjjcnd  much  linii 
in  the  ai)ple-trees,  often  sipping  honey  from  the  white  blo^^jiib, 
over  which  they  wander  with  peculiar  delight,  continually  roviiu 
amidst  the  sweet  and  flowery  ])rofusion.     The  mellow  whistlo. 
notes  which  they  are  heard  to  trumpet  from  the  high  bnuiclic- 
of   our    tallest    trees  and  gigantic    elms    resemble,  at   liuK-, 
Ws/tippt'-fshayia    too    too,    and    sometimes    '' tsliippcc     'A/////! 
(lispingly),  too  too  (with  the  two  last  syllables  loud  and  fuHi. 
These  notes  are  also  varied  by  some  birds  so  as  to  rcriombii 
Ush  Ush  'tshcetshoo  tshoo  tshoo^  also  'tsh  'ts/ur/a  'ts/ur/a  'tslu\u 

1  Tlic   first   three  of  these  notes  are  derived  from  tlie  Suiiuner  Vei! -w  I!;:- 
though  nut   its  most   usual  tones. 


(HI,; 
///  /, 
ill'  pi 

solitn 
.iti  try 
Ii-rniih 

an  iiiir 
n\-((|  I, 
lic.inl   i 

I'f  iNjo 


""'  List  j,l 
''"^'^■'-  ■"Id  echoi 


BALTIMORK    ORIOI.K, 


8; 


iSlli 


m 


wnd'k'luf  a  fi'if  ii  (I'lf  ti  ti-a  kcrrx  ;'^   anotlu-r   l)ir(l   T  h 


:ive 


Mona 


lly  heard  to  call  for  hours,  with  soiiu-  littl 


c  variation. 


//;  Uo  Ico  /('(>  tiO  too,  in  a  loud,  (|ucrulous,  and  yet  almost  lu- 
ijidously  merry  strain.  At  other  intervals  the  sensations  of 
Milil'ule  seem  to  stimulate  sometimes  a  loud  and  interro"- 
at.iiv  note,  echoed  forth  at  intervals,  as  k' nx  Icrrry  !>  and 
trnniiialinii:  ])laintively  k' rry  k' rry  /c'irv,  /// ;  the  voice  f; 
.ilf  \\i\-  slenderlv  in  the  last  1 


dling 


an  1 


xnv^  syllable,  which  is  a])])arently 
iiuiation  from  the  Cardinal  (irosbeak,  and  the  rest  is  de- 


the  C 


d  T 


'itmouse,  whom    they    have    already 
luMiil  in  concert  as  they  passed   through  the  warmer  States. 
AiiMiiier  interrogatory  strain  which  I  heard  here  in  the  spring 
of  1.S30  was  precisely,  \\ip  k'r>-\\  '1//.  '17/  k'rry,  very  loud  and 
oft  reiicated.     Another  male  went  in  his  ordinary  key,  fs/ieny 
ts/icrn,  tslupcc  tslhrx,  —  notes  copied  from  the  exhaustless  stock 
i)f  the  Carolina  Wren  (also  heard  on  his  i)assage),  but  modu- 
lated to  suit  the  fancy  of  our  vocalist.     'I'he  female  likewise 
sin-s.  but   less   agreeably  than   the   male.     One  which   I   had 
ali'.iiida.ni  opi)ortunity  of  observing,  while  busied  in  the  toil  of 
\VLa\  ing  her  comjilicated  nest,  every  now  and  then,  as  a  relief 
from  the  drudgery  in  which  she  was  solely  engaged,  sung,  in  a 
sort  (if.inerulous  and   rather  plaintive   strain,  the  strange,  un- 
comh  >\llal)les,  'ka  'ked  kdioa.  kcka  kcka,  the   final  tones  lotid 
ami  vaulting,  which  I  have  little  doubt  were  an  imitation  of  the 
iliscoidant  notes  of  some  South  American    l)ird.      I'or    many 
ilavs  she  continued  this  tune  at  intervals  without  any  variation, 
llic  inak',  also  while  seeking  his  food  in  the  same  tree  with  his 
UKUe,   or  while   they  are  both  attending  on    their   unlledged 
brooil.  calls  freciuently  in  a  low,  friendly  whisper,  Vr.-r///,  /re''//. 
Indeed,  all  the  individuals  of  either  sex   appear  pertinaciously 
to  adhere  for  weeks  to  the  same  quaint  syllables  which  they 
have  accidentally  collected. 

'ibis  bird  then,  like  the  Starling,  ai)i)ears  to  have  a  taste  for 
mimiciy,  or  rather  for  sober  imitation.  A  Cardinal  Crosljcak 
li-M'1'^ning,  very   unusually,   to  pay  us  a  vi^it.  his  harmonious 

Tlir  last  phrase   loud  and  ascending',  the  A',?  plaintive,  .iiul  the  la^t  svllab!> 
t'luliT  aiul  echnlMLr. 


-J-JMW 


so 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


aivl  bold  wliistle  struck  upon  the  car  of  a  Baltimore  with  iivwi 
(lcli;^ht  ;  and  from  that  UKjuicnt  his  ordinary  nf)tcs  were  IjkI 
aside  for  'r.v//,  "av/A  Au.  and  other  phrases  ])reviously  foreiLni 
to  him  f(jr  that  season.  I  have  likewise  heard  anotlier  indi\  ji!- 
ual  exarliy  imitatiuL;  the  soft  and  somewhat  ])lainti\e  rv/  i//, 
77/ i/>/ of  the  same  bird,  and  in  the  next  breath  the/^v/A  or 
call  of  \\'il>(;n's  'I'hrusli  ;  also  at  times  the  earnest  song  u\  liie 
Robin.  Indi'ed  his  variations  and  imitations  ha\  e  sometiiiH-s 
led  me  to  l)eheve  that  I  heard  several  new  and  meloilioib 
birds,  and  I  was  only  undeceived  when  I  beheld  his  brilli:int 
livery.  So  various,  in  fact,  are  the  individual  phrases  chanted 
by  this  restless  and  lively  bird  that  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  fix 
on  any  characteristic  notes  by  which  he  may  be  recogni/iil ; 
his  singular,  loud,  and  almost  plaintive  tone,  and  a  fondiic^^s 
for  harping  long  on  the  same  string,  are  perhaps  more  peculi  ir 
than  any  particular  syllaliles  which  he  may  be  heard  to  utter. 
^\'hen  alarmed  or  offended  at  being  too  closely  watched  or 
approached,  both  male  and  female  utter  an  angry,  rattling  A/lvv 
fi/i'r,  or  hi-,s.  A//'  /.<//'  /s/i'  'ts/i. 

The  beautiful  Baltimore  bird  is  only  one  of  the  tribe  of  tnic 
Icicri,  which,  except  the  present  and  two  following  species, 
remain  within  the  tropical  regions,  or  only  migrate  to  short 
distances  in  the  rainy  season.  Ours  wing  their  way  even 
into  Canada  as  far  as  the  55th  degree,  and  breed  in  even 
intermediate  region  to  the  tabledand  of  Mexico.  A  yellow 
I5razi!n"  s])ecies  of  the  section  of  this  genus,  called  cassiciK. 
according  to  Waterton  inhabits  also  Demerara,  where,  like  our 
bird,  he  familiarly  weaves  his  pendulous  nest  near  the  plantcr'> 
house,  suspending  it  from  the  drooping  branches  of  trees,  ainl 
so  low  that  it  may  be  readily  looked  into  even  by  the  inai- 
rious.  Omnivorous  like  the  Starling,  he  feeds  equally  on  insectN 
fruits,  and  seeds.  He  is  called  the  Mocking  Bird,  and  for  lionr- 
togethcr,  in  gratit.ide  as  it  were  for  protection,  he  serciuulc^ 
the  inhabitants  with  his  imitative  notes.  His  own  song,  thoti;'h 
short,  is  sweet  and  melodious,  liut  hearing  perhaps  the  yolii- 
ing  of  the  Toucan,  he  drops  his  native  strain  to  imitate  it.  or 
place  it  in  ridicule  by  contrast.     Again,  he  gives  the  cackling 


h 


WW  (  , 
tl(Jll   O 

of  fi\e 

tlie   e\ 

a.-,  the 

tiili|)-tr 

natiir.il 

Jr  siou 

corresj)( 

\Vith  tht 

lin,::s.  sti 

lyiii,;^  He. 

it  interw 

fonn  int( 

real  nest, 

sometime 

of"  slende 

feathers, 

more  or  k 

t'le  leaves 

canopy,  dt 

sometimes 

these  nests 

<-"iiii)ositio 

sortoflaho 

"■'ii'le  vviiJK 

laborious  ta: 


BALTIMORE    ORIOLE. 


«7 


crii  s  of  the  Woodpecker,  the  bleating  of  the  sheep;  an  inter- 
v,il  iif  liis  own  meloily,  then  probably  a  pup[)y  dog  or  a  (iuinea- 


iwui  receiv 


es  his  usual  attention  :   and  the  whcjle  of  this  mi 


m- 


icrv  is  aeeomixinied   by  antic  gestures  indicative  of  the  si)ort 
,111(1  (dinpany  which  these  vagaries  afford  him.      Hence  we  see 


liuit    I 


he   mimicking   talent   of  the    Stare   is   inherent   in  thi- 


branch  of  the  gregarious  family,  and  our  own  IJaltimore,  in  a 
humbler  style,  is  no  less  delighted  with  the  notes  of  his  feathered 
neighbors. 

'1  here  is  nothing  more  remarkable  in  the  whole  instinct  of 
onr  ( itjMcn  Robin  than  the  ingenuity  disjilayed  in  the  fabrica- 
tion of  its  nest,  which  is,  in  foct,  a  pendulous  cylindric  ])ouch 
of  five  to  seven  inches  in  depth,  usually  suspended  from  near 
the  extremities  of  the  high,  drooping  branches  of  trees  (such 
a:i  the  elm,  the  i)ear  or  apple  tree,  wild-cherry,  weeping-willow, 
tulip-tree,  or  buttonwood).  It  is  begun  by  firmly  fastening 
ii.iHitMl  strings  of  the  llax  of  the  silk-weed,  or  swam])-holyhock, 
jr  siout  artificial  threads,  round  two  or  more  forked  twigs, 
(omsponding  to  the;  intended  width  anil  depth  of  the  nest. 
\\"\\h  the  same  materials,  willow  down,  or  any  accidental  ravel - 
lilies,  strings,  thread,  sewing-silk,  tow,  or  wool,  that  may  be 
lyiiii(  near  the  neighboring  houses,  or  round  the  grafts  of  trees, 
it  interweaves  and  fabricates  a  sort  of  coarse  cloth  into  the 
totui  intended,  towards  the  bottom  of  which  is  placed  the 
real  nest,  made  chiefly  of  lint,  wiry  grass,  horse  and  cow  hair, 
sometimes,  in  defe(-t  of  hair,  lining  the  interior  with  a  mixture 
of  blender  strips  of  smooth  vine-bark,  and  rarely  with  a  few 
feathers,  the  whole  being  of  a  considerable  thickness,  and 
more  or  less  attached  to  the  external  jjouch.  Over  the  top, 
the  leaves,  as  they  grow  out.  form  a  verdant  and  agreeable 
canopy,  defending  the  young  from  the  sun  and  rain.  I'here  is 
sometimes  a  considerable  difference  in  the  manufacture  of 
these  nests,  as  well  as  in  the  materials  which  enter  into  their 
coiniiosition.  IJoth  sexes  seem  to  be  equally  adejns  at  this 
sort  of  labor,  and  I  have  seen  the  female  alone  perform  the 
whole  without  any  assistance,  and  the  male  also  complete  this 
laborious  task  nearly  without  the  aid  of  his  consort,  —  who,  how- 


wm 


88 


SINGING    lilRDS. 


ever,  in  general,  is  the  principal  worker.  I  have  observed  a 
nest  made  ahiiost  wholly  of  tow,  which  was  laid  out  for  the 
convenience  of  a  male  bird,  who  with  this  aitl  completed  his 
lab(jr  in  a  very  short  time,  and  fre([uently  sang  in  a  very  ludi- 
crous manner  while  his  mouth  was  loaded  with  a  mass  larger 
than  his  head.  So  eager  are  these  birils  to  obtain  fibrous  ma- 
terials that  they  will  readily  tug  at  and  even  untie  hard  knots 
made  of  tow.  In  .Audubon's  magnificent  plates  a  nest  is  rep- 
resented as  formed  outwardly  of  the  long-moss  ;  where  this 
abounds,  of  course,  the  labor  of  obtaining  materials  must  he 
greatly  abridged.  The  author  likewise  remarks  that  the  wliolc 
fabric  consists  almost  entirely  of  this  material,  loosely  inter- 
woven, without  any  warm  lining,  —  a  labor  which  our  ingenious 
artist  seems  aware  would  be  superfluous  in  the  warm  forests  of 
the  lower  Mississippi.  A  female,  which  I  ol)scr\'ed  attcnti\(lv, 
carried  off  to  her  nest  a  ])iece  of  lamjj-wick  ten  or  twelve  tlct 
long.  This  long  string,  and  many  other  shorter  ones,  were  left 
hanging  out  for  about  a  week  before  both  the  ends  were  wat- 
tled into  the  sides  of  the  nest.  Some  other  little  birds,  making 
use  of  similar  materials,  at  times  twitched  these  flowing  einls. 
and  generally  brought  out  the  busy  Baltimore  from  her  occn]»a- 
tion  in  great  anger. 

The  haste  and  eagerness  of  one  of  these  airy  architects, 
whi(di  I  accidentally  observed  on  tlie  banks  of  the  Susipie- 
hanna,  appeared  likely  to  ])rove  fatal  to  a  busy  female  who. 
in  weaving,  got  a  loop  round  her  neck  ;  and  no  sooner  was  she 
disengaged  from  this  snare  than  it  was  slipped  round  her  feet. 
and  thus  held  her  fast  beyond  the  power  of  escape  !  The  ni  ik' 
came  frequently  to  the  scene,  now  changed  from  that  of  inv 
and  ho]ie  into  despair,  but  seemed  wholly  incapable  of  i  "iii 
prehending  or  relieving  the  distress  of  his  mate.  In  a  sei  "ii'l 
instance  I  have  been  told  that  a  female  has  been  observed 
dead  in  the  like  i)redicament. 

The  eggs  of  this  sjiecies  are  usually  four  or  five,  white,  with 
a  faint,  indistinct  lint  of  bluish,  and  marked,  chiefly  at  the 
greater  end,  though  sometimes  scatteringly,  with  straggling, 
serpentine,  dark-bri)wn  lines  and  spots,  and  fainter  hair  stre  iks, 


y 

ItMikii 

■ 

eilily. 

8 

te'ii 

B 

<|ilentl 

1 

with  t! 

1 

■>iiiL:le 
er.idle 

1 

period 
and  ed 
inlhni 

take  wi 

''M 

<//</.  /<■-. 

i 

elainoro 
also  ac( 

pn»I>il.l\ 

spotted  ; 

onsl_\-  \ci\ 

!>.irents. 

the  ;iirv  i 

other  ani 

is  als(j  ()( 

vi^iing  esc 

1  llr\   ,  lin 

nei-iil)()|-ii 

; 

11"  not   kil 

; 

cneinies. 

' 

•i"d  w.iilin 

[ 

the  -enero 

Ions  of  the 

■ 

1  hue  kno 

hini.>eirto 

than  desert 

"■hen  the  f 

'!'iy  the  di 

^'i<^v  ahnos 

i'l^'  ihe  unh 

'•"nie.  ;it  int 

I'.ALTIMORK    ORIOLE. 


89 


liuikini,'  sometiiiK's  almost  like  real  hair,  and  occasionally  lined 
onh'.  and  witlioul  the  spots.     The  period  of  incubation  is  four- 
teen  days.      In    Louisiana,   according'   tcj   Audubon,    they    tVe- 
(|uciuly  raise  two  broods  in  the  season,  arrivini(  in  that  country 
with  the  openint;  of  the  early  sprini;.      Here  they  raise  but  a 
siiiLile   brood,   whose    long  and   tedious  support   in  their  lofty 
V  raille  absorbs   their  whole   attention  ;  and  at  this  interesting 
]n  riod  they  seem,  as  it  were,  to  live  only  to  protect,  cherish, 
ami  educate  their  yoimg.     The  first  and  general  cry  which  the 
infant  brood  utter  while  yet  in  the  nest,  and  nearly  able  to 
take  wing,  as  well  as  for  some  days  after,  i;'.  a  kind  of  A-<//(/ /c- 
(//(/.  /(•-<//(/,  kai-tl'-tc-iliJ,  or  ' fe  '/c'/c  ' (c  7/  't-iial,  which  becomes 
clamorous  as  the  parents  approach  them  with  food.    They  soon 
al>o  acijuire   the    scolding   rattle   and   short   notes  which  they 
]ii(il)ilily  hear  around  them,  such  as  pi'ct-K'd't,  the  cry  of  the 
s]ii>tti.(l  Sandpi[)er,  and  others,  and  long  continue  to  be  assidu- 
(ju>lv  tVd  and  guarded  bv  their  very  affectionate  and  devoted 
])arcnls.     Tufortunately,  this  contrivance  of  instinct  to  secure 
the  airy  nest  from  the  (le])reilati(jns  of  rapacious  monkeys,  and 
other  animals  which  freipient  trees  in  warm  or  milil  climates, 
is  abo  occasionally  attended  with  serious  accidents,  when  the 
young  escape  before  obtaining  the   jterfect  use  of  their  wings. 
Tlu  V  cling,  however,  with  great  tenacity  either  to  the  nest  or 
nci.uhhoring  twigs;   yet  sometimes  they  fiill  to  the  ground,  and, 
if  not  killed  on   the  spot,  soon  become  a   prey  to  niunerous 
cncniies.     On  such  occasions  it  is  painful  to  hear  the  jilaints 
and  wailing  cries  (jf  the  parents.     And  when  real  danger  offers, 
the  mnerous  and  brilliant  male,  though  much  the  less  (|ueru- 
lous  iif  tJK'  two,  steps  in  to  save  his  brood  at  every  hazard  :  and 
1  ha\e  kn<jwn  one  so  bold  in  this  hopeless  defence  as  to  suffer 
himself  to  be  killed,  by  a  near  a]-)proach  with  a  stick,  rather 
than  desert  his  offspring.      Sometimes,  after  this  misfortune,  or 
when  the  fell  cat  has  devoured  the   helj^less  brood,  day  after 
'I'ly  the   disconsolate   parents   continue   to   bewail    their   loss, 
'fhey  almost  forget  to  eat  amidst  their  distress,  and  after  leav- 
i'lu'  the  unhapi)y  neighborhood  of  their  bereavement,  they  still 
''>ine.  at  intervals,  to  visit  and  lament  over  the  fatal  spot,  as  if 


90 


si\(;i\(;  I'.iRDS. 


s]K'll-boun(l  by  despair.  Ifllu'  season  l)c  not  too  far  advancnl, 
tlif  l(»s  of  tliL'ir  cj^^L^s  is  generally  socju  n-paircd  by  constructing 
a  second  nest,  in  which,  however,  the  eL,'gs  are  fewer. 

'I'he  true  Oriole  ( (^A  (,'(///'///(/).  wliich  niii^rates  into  .\fri(M, 
and  passes  the  breeiling  season  in  the  centre  of  iMU'ope,  aUo 
makes  a  i)en(hilous  nest,  and  dis|)lays  great  couratfe  in  the  de- 
fence of  its  y(juni,s  l)eing  so  attached  to  its  i)rotj;eny  that  the 
fenude  has  l)een  taken  and  conveyed  to  a  (age  on  her  eggs,  on 
which,  with  resohite  and  fatal  instinct,  she  remained  faithfully 
sitting  until  she  expued. 

'I'he  lialtimore  bird,  though  naturally  shy  and  suspicion^, 
probably  for  greater  security  from  more  dangerous  enemies, 
generally  c;hooses  f(jr  the  nest  the  largest  and  tallest  spreadiiii^ 
trees  near  ftrm-houses,  and  along  fre(|uented  lanes  and  roads; 
and  trusting  to  the  inaccessibleness  of  its  ingenious  mansinn, 
it  works  fearlessly  and  scarcely  studies  concealment.  Iliil 
as  soon  as  the  young  ;ire  hatched,  here,  towards  the  close  u\ 
June,  the  whole  family  begin  to  leave  the  immediate  neighbor- 
hood of  their  cares.  Hit  through  the  woods,  — a  shy.  roving,  and 
nearly  silent  train  ;  and  when  ready  for  the  distant  journey  be- 
fore them,  abcMit  the  end  of  August  or  beginning  of  Sei)temlier, 
the  whok'  at  once  disai)]")ear,  and  ])robably  arrive,  as  with  ib, 
amidst  the  forests  of  South  America  in  a  scattered  tlock,  :iiiil 
continue,  like  Starlings,  to  ])ass  the  winter  in  celibacy,  wholly 
engaged  in  gleaning  a  ([uiet  subsistence  until  the  return  of 
spring.  Then,  incited  by  instinct  to  prepare  for  a  more  ]io\v- 
orful  passion,  thi'y  again  wing  their  way  to  the  regions  of  tlio 
north,  where,  but  for  this  wonderful  instinct  of  migration,  tlu' 
whole  race  would  perish  in  a  single  season.  As  the  se\i- 
nsually  arrive  in  different  flocks,  it  is  evident  that  the  coniuu:il 
tie  ceases  at  the  period  of  migration,  and  the  choice  of  mates 
is  renewed  with  the  season  ;  during  which  the  males,  ami 
sometimes  also  the  females,  carry  on  their  jealous  disimics 
with  much  obstinacy. 

That  our  Oriole  is  not  familiar  with  ns,  independent  of  the 
all-powerful  natural  impulse  which  he  obeys,  is  sufficieiulv 
obvious  when  he  nests  in  the  woods.     Two  of  these  solitary 


MAI.riMOKK   Oklol.K 


91 


he 
(111 
illy 


Men. 

>v  of 
ibov- 

iiilicr, 


llnllV 


I'U    (' 


IHIW- 


lsc\i'> 


liiati- 


lUlfS 


mid  nliriiiL;  pair^,  hail  this  MiiniiuT,  conirary  to  thiir  n-ual 
h.ihils,  taken  up  thrir  aluxK^  in  ihc  lofty  IxanchrN  of  a  ,i,M,uantic 
p.mtoinvood  in  ihr  lorL'sl.  As  soon  as  wc  apjirarrd  ihM'  look 
tlic  alarm,  and  ivmaini'd  uneasy  and  irriiaMc  until  wi'  witl' 
lly  out  of  si:j,iu.  ( )tlKTS,  aijain,  \  isit  the-  lu'art  of  iIk'  popu- 
cit},  and  ]iour  forth  thrir  wild  and  ])Iainti\-c  sonj^^s  from  the 


Wliol 


lulls 


ti(  I'S  \vhi( 


h  d 


I'lorate  the  streets  and  t^ardens.  amid  the  ( 


lin  of 


the  passing  erowil  and  the  tmnnll  of  incessant  and  noisv  occu- 
li.itioiis.  Audulion  remarks  that  their  migrations  are  pertormed 
>iiigl\-  and  (hu-ing  the  day,  and  that  they  jiroeeed  high,  and  ll_\- 
straight  and  continuous. 

The  food  of  the  lialtimorc  aj^iJearsto  be  small  caterjiillars,  — 
etimes  those  of  the  api)le-trees,  —  some  unconunon  kinds 


sum 


ol  beetles,  enures,  and  small  ilies,  like  a  s])e(ies  ot  (  \!iips. 
(•nationally  I  have  seen  an  indixidiial  (■olle(  ting  C'/r///,/,//  ])y 
the  sides  of  sandy  and  gravelly  roads.     'I'luy  fvvd  lluar  }-ou 


nil 


u>ually  with  soft  caterpillars,  which  tliey  swallow,  and  disgorge 
oil  arriving  at  the  nest ;  and  in  this  m  cessary  toil  l)oth  sexes 
as:^iduously  unite.  They  seldom  molest  any  of  the  fruits  of  our 
gaideiis,  except  a  few  cherries  and  mulberries,  and  are  the 
mo>t;  harmless,   useful,   beautiful,  and    common    birds    of   the 


CDiintrv. 


"h 


ev   are. 


how 


ever,  accusei 


1   of 


sometimes  accom- 


p  lining  their  young  to  the  garden  jjeas.  which   tliey  devour 
while  small  and  green  ;  and  being  now  ])artly  gregarious,  the 


(lainaije 


tliev  commit  is  at  times  rendered  visible.     ( )K'asio 


nallv 


they  .'re  seen  in  cages,  lieing  chielly  fed  on  soaked  bread,  or 
iiual  and  water;  they  apjiear  also  fond  of  (lurries,  straw- 
luiries.  currants,  raisins,  and  figs,  so  that  we  may  justly 
ciiiiiider  them,  like  the  ("assicans  and  Starlings,  as  omniNortnis, 


liDimli  m  a  less  ( 


leijrret 


ley  smg  and  appear  In  (.ay  m  con- 


fiiieinent  or  domestication,  and   become   very   docile,  playful, 
and  triendlv.  even  goinu  in  and  out  of  the  house,  and  some- 

hand  of  their   protector. 


tiiiu 


iliuhtint:  at  a  whistle  on  thi 


The  young  for  a  while  recpiire  to  be  (al  on  animal  food  alone, 
aiii!  the  most  suitable  a]')])ears  to  be  iVesh  min<ed  meal,  soaked 
in  new  milk.  In  this  way  they  may  be  easily  raised  almost 
from  the  first  hatchinsi  ;  but  at  this  tiiue  vi'L^etable  substances 


92 


si\t;iN(;  iiiRDs. 


.i|i|KMr  to  iiiTord  iIkih  no  kind  of  nutrition,  and  at  all  tinu  . 
tiny  will  ihriw  bittrr  it'  indiili^'cd  with  a  little  annnal  t'ood  u\- 
in.MTts,  as  well  as  h:irild)oili.'d  I'KJ^'s. 

'riu'.sunnni'r  ran^'c  of  this  beautiful  bird  in  the  fur  coinitrii^ 
extends  to  the  55th  dei,qee  of  latitude,  arriving  t)n  the  plains 
of  the  Saskatchewan,  according  to  Rieliardson,  about  tlu'  loih 
of  May,  or  nearly  as  early  as  their  arrival  in  Massachuseti-.. 
i'hoiie  which  ihiis  \isit  tiie  wilds  of  Canaila  in  all  [irobabihiv 
proceed  at  unrc  from  Mexico,  or  ascend  the  great  valley  u\ 
the   Mississippi   and    Missouri. 

I  have  had  a  male  bird  in  a  state  (jf  domestication  raised  froni 
the  nest  very  readily  on  fresh  nuneed  meat  soaked  in  ni.ik. 
When  established,  his  principal  tood  was  scalded  Indian  coni- 
meal,  on  which  he  fed  contentedl)',  but  was  also  fond  of  swcrt 
cakes,  insects  of  all  descriptions,  and  nearly  every  kind  of  fruit. 
In  short,  he  ale  everything  he  would  in  a  state  of  nature,  and 
did  not  refuse  to  taste  and  eat  of  eserything  but  the  cou'li- 
ments  which  enter  into  the  multifirious  diet  <jf  the  human 
species  :   he  was  literally  omnivorous. 

\o  bird  coulil  become  more  tame,  allowing  himself  to  1)0 
handled  with  patient  imlifferencc,  and  sometimes  with  ply- 
fulness.  'i'he  singular  mechanical  apiilication  of  his  i)ill  wis 
remarkable,  and  explains  at  once  the  ingenious  art  em])lo\r(l 
l)y  the  speiit's  in  weaving  their  nest.  If  the  folded  hand  w.is 
presented  t(j  our  tamiliar  Oriole,  he  endeavored  to  open  it  hy 
inserting  his  pointed  and  straight  bill  betwixt  the  closed  fingers, 
and  then  by  pressing  open  the  bill  with  great  muscular  fon  c, 
m  the  manner  of  an  t)pening  \x\\r  of  compasses,  he  contrist d. 
if  the  force  was  not  great,  to  open  the  hand  and  examine  it-; 
contents.  If  brought  to  the  face  he  did  the  same  with  ilic 
mouth,  and  would  try  hard  to  ()])cn  the  closed  teeth.  In  iliis 
way,  by  pressing  o])en  any  yielding  interstice,  he  could  reailily 
insert  the  threads  of  his  nest,  and  pass  them  through  an  infinity 
of  openings,  so  as  to  form  the  ingenious  net- work  or  basis  ofiiis 
suspensory  and  ])rocreant  cradle. 

This  is  a  familiar  bird  throughout  tlie  greater  part  of  this  faiiiul 
province  uoiiii  to  the  southern  portions  of  Ontario  and  Quebec 


OKCIIARI)    oRlol.i:. 


93 


liiul  it  occurs  sparin,i,'ly  in   Now  IJninswick  and   Nova  Scoti.i.    It 
u  inters  souliuvard  to    I'anania. 


Norn. —  A   sinnio    c.\aini)Ii'    of     llri.i.dCK's   Ouioi.i:   (/,  Avv/.v 

/i,7/7.'./7),  whicli   was  sliol  near  IJan.nor,  Maim.',  in  1SS9.  ^ivts  this 

>|.L'(  ics  a  ri-lit   to  lie   nientioneil   liere.     'I'lic   usual   lialiitat  nl' this 

]ii(  ics  is  between  the  eastern  iiase  of  tiie   Koekies  and  tile  I'aeilie 

luast. 


URCHAKI)  okioi.i:. 

Icn;i;is  si'tuii  s. 

('ir\i;.  Male:  head,  neck,  haek,  wings,  and  tail  black;  other  parts 
clK>iiiut,  ilecpest  un  breast.  I''eni;de  ;  yellowish  olive  inclining  tn  bit/\vii ; 
\M^.;^  dusky  l)rown  with  2  wiiile  bauds ;  beneath,  olive  yellow.  \'nnn,u' 
sliiiil.u  to  female.     I,englh  6  to  7'+  inches. 

.\'i.<f.  A  li;uuls<Jine  basketdike  structure,  ;dinul  4  inches  in  deptli, 
cnniiio-id  of  grasses  woven  into  a  smooth  lii  ni  tabric,  and  lined  with 
fc,ulier>  or  other  soft  material.  It  is  sometimes  ])artly  sup|)ortcd  in  the 
f(jrks  of  ^mall  twigs,  and  often  entirely  pendent.     I'sually  about   10  feet 

)iii  the  ground  and  near  the  end  of  the  branch 

'•!svf-  .1"^  (generally.));  white  with  blue  or  green  tint,  nregularly 
■  kcd  with  lilac  and  brown;  .So  X  .60. 

This  smaller  and  ])Iaincr  s]')ecics  has  many  of  the  habits  of 
the  llaltinioro  h\u\,  and  arrives  in  I'ennsylvania  al)()iit  a  week 
liter.  They  enter  the  s(jnthern  boundary  of  the  I'nited  States 
e;nl\-  in  March,  and  remain  there  until  ()(t()l)er.  'I'liey  do  not 
hdwever.  I  beHeve,  often  migrate  farther  north  and  e;i^l  th;in 
the  State  of  Connecticut.  I  h;ive  never  seen  or  heard  of  them 
in  Massachusetts,  any  more  than  my  s('ientiric  friend,  and  close 
observer,  Mr.  C.  Pickering.  'J'iieir  stay  in  the  I'liited  St;ites,  it 
aiii'ears  from  Wilson,  is  little  more  tli;in  four  montlis,  as  they 
retire  to  South  America  early  in  September,  or  at  least  do  not 
winter  irt  the  Southern  States.  According  to  my  friend  Mr. 
W'.wr,  they  breed  at  Augusta,  in  (leorgia;  and  Mr.  Say  ob- 
served the  Orchard  (Jriole  at  Major  bong's  winter  (piarlers  on 
the  b;inks  of  the  Missouri.  Audubon  has  also  ol)served  the 
species  towards  the  sources  of  the  Mississi])pi,  as  well  as  in  the 
State  of  ^b^ine.     The  same  author  likewise  remarks  that  their 


94 


SINGING    BIRDS. 


northern  migrations,  like  those  of  the  Haltimorc  l)ird,  arc  ikt- 
funiicd  by  <lay,  and  that  the  males  arrive  a  week  or  ten  (l;iys 
sooner  than  their  mates.  They  appear  to  affect  the  elevated 
and  airy  regions  of  the  Alleghany  mountains,  where  they  are 
much  more  numerous  than  the  IJaltimore. 

'I'he  Orchard  Oriole  is  an  exceedingly  active,  sj)rightly,  ami 
restless  bird  ;  in  the  same  instant  almost,  he  is  on  the  gri^uml 
after  some  fallen  insect,  fluttering  amidst  the  foliage  (jf  ihc 
trees,  prying  and  springing  after  his  lurking  prey,  or  flying  and 
tuning  his  lively  notes  in  a  manner  so  hurried,  rapid,  ami 
seemingly  confused  that  the  ear  is  scarce  able  to  thread  out 
the  shrill  and  lively  tones  of  his  agitated  ditty.  IJetween  tlusc 
hurried  attempts  he  also  gives  others,  which  are  distinct  and 
agreeable,  and  not  unlike  the  sweet  warble  of  the  Red-Ureasicd 
(Irosbeak,  though  more  brief  and  less  varied.  In  choosing  the 
situation  of  bis  nest  he  is  e([ually  fomiliar  with  the  ]5altim(ire 
Oriole,  and  seems  to  enjoy  the  general  society  of  his  spe<  ics, 
suspending  his  most  mgenious  and  pensile  fabric  from  ilic 
bending  twig  of  the  apple-tree,  which,  like  the  nest  of  the 
other,  is  constructed  in  the  form  of  a  pouch  from  three  to  lU  c 
inches  in  (lei)lh,  according  to  the  strength  or  flexibility  of  the 
tree  on  which  he  labors  ;  so  that  in  a  weeping-willow,  according 
to  Wilson,  the  nest  is  one  or  two  inches  deeper  than  if  in  an 
apple-tree,  to  obviate  the  danger  of  throwing  out  the  eggs  and 
young  by  the  sweep  of  the  long,  pendulous  branches.  It  is 
likewise  slighter,  as  the  crowding  leaves  of  that  tree  afford  a 
natural  shelter  of  considerable  thickness.  That  economy  of 
this  kind  should  be  studied  by  the  Orchard  Oriole  will  scarcely 
surprise  so  much  as  the  laborious  ingenuity  and  beautiful  tissue 
of  its  nest.  It  is  made  exteriorly  of  a  fine  woven  mat  of  lung, 
tough,  and  flexible  grass,  as  if  darned  with  a  needle.  The 
form  is  hemispherical,  and  the  inside  is  lined  with  downy 
substances,  —  sometimes  the  wool  of  the  seeds  of  the  Button- 
wood,  —  forming  thus  a  commodious  and  soft  bed  for  the  yoiuig. 
This  precaution  of  a  warm  lining,  as  in  the  preceding  species, 
is,  according  to  Audubon,  dispensed  with  in  the  warm  climate 
of  Ix)uisiana.     The  eggs  are  4  or  5,  of  a  very  pale    bluish 


ORCHARD   ORIOI.K. 


95 


tint,  with  a  few  points  of  brown,  and  spots  of  dark  purple, 
(liiclly  disposed  at  the  greater  end.  The  feniulc  sits  about 
I  )  (lays,  and  the  young  continue  in  the  nest  lo  days  before 
they  become  (luaHfied  to  flit  along  with  thtir  parents;  but 
they  are  generally  seen  abroad  about  the  middle  of  June. 
lYcviously  to  their  departure,  the  young,  leaving  tlie  care  of 
tluir  parents,  become  gregarious,  and  assemble  sometimes  in 
lliiiks  of  separate  sexes,  from  30  to  40  ur  upwards, —  in  the 
South  frc(|uenting  the  savannahs,  feeding  much  on  crickets, 
grasshoppers,  and  spiders  ;  and  at  this  season  their  tlesh  i>  much 
esteemed  by  the  inhabitants.  Wilson  found  them  easy  to  raise 
from  the  nest,  but  does  not  say  on  what  they  were  fed,  though 
they  probably  recpiire  the  same  treatment  as  the  liaitimcjre 
Oriole.  .According  to  .Vudubon,  they  sing  with  great  liveliness 
in  cages,  being  fed  on  rice  and  dry  fruits  when  fresh  camiot  be 
]):o(nired.  Their  ordinary  diet,  it  a])pt'ars,  is  caterpillars  and 
ii^ccts,  of  which  they  destroy  great  (luanlities.  In  the  course 
of  the  season  they  likewise  feed  on  various  kiutls  of  juicy  fruits 
and  l)erries  ;  but  their  depredations  on  the  fruits  of  the  orchard 
aic  very  unimportant. 

This  is  a  summer  visitor  throughout  tho  Eastern  States,  though 
not  common  north  of  the  Connecticut  valley.  It  occurs  re-uiarly 
in  Massachusetts  and  southern  Ontario,  and  has  been  taken  in 
.Main„'  and  New  Brunswick. 


RED-WINGED   BLACKBIRD. 

AGELAIUS   PIKKNICEUS. 

Char.  Male;  black;  lesser  wingcoverts  vermilion,  bordered  with 
bull'.  Female;  above,  blackish  brown  streaked  with  paler  and  grayi>h: 
lower  parts  dusky  white  streaked  with  reddish  brown  ;  sometimes  wing- 
coverts have  a  reddish  tinge.  Young  like  female,  but  colors  deeper. 
Length  7^  to  10  inches. 

A't'st.  In  a  tuft  of  grass  or  on  a  bush;  composed  of  grass,  leaves,  and 
mud,  lined  with  soft  grass. 

/iVV'j'.  3-5;  color  varies  from  bluish  white  to  greenish  blue,  bh^lclied, 
streaked,  and  spotted  with  lilac  and  dark  brown;  size  variable,  average 
about  1. 00  X  -90. 

The  Red-Winged  Troopial  in  summer  inhabits  the  whole  of 
North  America  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Mexico,  and  is  foiimi  in 
the  interior  from  the  53d  degree  across  the  whole  continent  to 
the  shores  of  the  Pacific  and  along  the  coast  as  for  as  ("all 
fornia.  They  are  migratory  north  of  Maryland,  bnt  pass  the 
winter  and  summer  in  great  numbers  in  all  the  Southern  Stales, 
fre(iuenting  chiefly  the  settlements  and  rice  and  corn  fields; 
towards  the  sea-coast,  where  they  move  about  like  blackening 
clouds,  rising  suddenly  at  times  with  a  noise  like  thunder,  and 
exhibiting  amidst  the  broad  shadows  of  their  funereal  ])liuTiage 
the  bright  flashing  of  the  vermilion  with  which  their  wiuLi-  arc 
so  singularly  decorated.  After  whirling  and  waving  a  little 
distance  like  the  Starling,  they  descend  as  a  torrent,  and  d ark- 


\\itf)  the 
anil  in  t 
^•verytliin 
liuHnek  f; 

Me.\i((;,   ^ 

I'arley. 

I'loni  t 
natiiiv  of 
scattered  { 
t'u'ir  way 
'-■iiaiter.  ar 
forp)t  in  tl 
''"'''J"'iiiitan( 
tin,ir   their 
resound  agj 
evening  bci 
settling  the 

•lay,  they  se 

'I'l?:  tones, 

riiption  of 

Wem  [(_■(!.     'J- 

•^"'I  hy  slo\, 

■^pnl,  u-hen  1 

^^■^-^  theyap 

the  (\)u-  'lYo, 


RED.^V,.VGED   EI.ACKn,Rl,. 
'"'""  "«■■  branches  of  ,he  tree,  bv  „,  •  ^^ 

'"-'■^'  a  general  concert  that  ZyVu"  T^"''  ""■■•'■  "■"- 
'"";■-  '-  "....sic  .eems  to  be'o'et'i  "  "'"^^'  ""-'  '« 
->'  »;"«•"«. -jingling  li,,„ij  „;„°  >;^  ''"'"■'«  '^'""-i-g 

-">'  I  .-r  peculiar  A„,,.,4..,,,  °  ,  , ''j  '^°-  °'-  >h.'  l:ol,„,,„tf 
™-l'lan,n,g  cl.irp.s,  j„,s    and  ,,     , '! ''  ■'■'"^' '' /'i' ■■  then 

"«  »  "ovel   and   sometimes  en„     f,  '  "'"-'  "''"'^  »„„it„. 

'»rmo„y,  in  which  the  performe  ""!,,'"  "^  ''''"'"'  "«! 
'>"«!=  "P  their  feathers  as  if  i,  c  in^d  ,  ?  *^°°''  ^•"""'.  •'".1 
■I";'''"')-  "■»«  their  show  of  „„*„"'  ; '  J"'^'  '»  ■"■^^^'  "P  in 
"lira  their  food  becins  Jf,^^ '"'''""  nnality. 

»","."-^  >>-P'e  Ora£  V  ,;  f™  ii':;"^-  ''^■'"^'  -'-/-assemble 
■™''  '"  'l>e  bar„.yards,  greedi  "'?  ■;  "°""''  "'^'  "™-"il« 
"■'■'■."'■i%'  within  thei  reach  r,  "'"°"'''>'  8''-»"i"S  "p 
""""'k  found  them  verv  ,r  ""=  "'°'"''  «f  March  Mr 

?'7'"-  "'•"0  ".e"  fo  W  d'T murn  '"'"  -'"  "-  '"'v' ^ 
l<"%-  '""'''"''"' Stall  a  tithe  of  their 

'■■'■""'  the  beginning  of  March  ,     »     ■, 
""'- "ftlie  season,  they  be' iHt  W -f  r'';'"°"''"S  '°  'he 

»^i}   iney  seem  to  rehVr<^  fi,  ■  ^"     '^^  "^'^\'  "''"t? 

;h«.er  aud  being  the  h.rbh  4,^  ^f  T''"  ""'  ''>■  f"-diy 
f"«"t  nuhe  instant,  a„,l„.ecnnot^,,""~  '""^  '^'""^  ■^''e 
^"''"»""»"«s  in  spite  of  their  r°h,"  '"-''""'  "'""  ^'^  <"'! 
""»  "-ir  accustoured  re  oV,^  '"''^'"'y  Propensities.  Selec- 
'-'""'' *^in  With  their  ^eT  pn,,^^'• ''"'  '°"'  "^-i-- 
"■^■'""S  before  retiring  to  o  '  e  /   '"  "">  "'"""'S  ""') 

f""8  'henrselves  fo^  t  ^  „  r^f, '^--'-^  P-viot.s  to 
;'^''' 'I'ey  seem  all  to  join  in  a,:,,  ^  "'"  '"""'"'  ">  'he 
'"'."  ""«,  which  would  bJerv"  'i  """  '"'  "'I'"''  »™l'- 
:;""V"  "f  ">e  plaints  a  a r  ,,'"•'"  i'  '""  ''"■  *^'  '"'-- 
'*'■■"'"'•  n>ey  continue  of  ■  '°""'''  "'"'  "'"'^b  it  is 
•;'"'  '■>■  ^l'""  streams  Z  pom  ,'1!  T"  '""'^  '"  s„,m„,s 
^*l'"''  "b"'  they  begin!  J™';"  """  ""■'''"'■  "'■  '  '-■  "f 

,7'.  'bey  appeir  to  be  p  r d!  ?, '"  """■     ■''""'^■'""".  t^-- 


^s 


98 


SINGIXG   BIRDS. 


incubation,  but  few  of  the  other  sex  appear  associated  wiih 
them  ;  and  as  among  the  bobolinks,  sometimes  two  or  thnc  uf 
the  ma)  .'s  may  be  seen  in  chase  of  an  indivichial  of  the  (jUkt 
sex,  but  without  making  any  contest  or  siiow  of  jealous  feud 
with  each  other,  as  a  concubinage  rather  than  any  regular 
mating  seems  to  prevail  among  the  species. 

Assembled  again  in  their  native  marshes,  the  male  perciud, 
upon  the  summit  of  some  bush  surrounded  by  water,  in  <  oin- 
pany  with  his  mates,  now  sings  out,  at  short  intervals,  his 
guttural  koni:;-(ji/cr-n'(',  shari)ly  calls  t'tshcah,  or  when  disturbed, 
plaintively  utters  'ttsluiy  ;  to  which  his  companions,  not  iu-en- 
sible  to  these  odd  attentions,  n(nv  and  then  return  a  gratuhitory 
cackle  or  reiterated  chirp,  like  that  of  the  native  Meadow- 
Lark.  As  a  pleasant  and  novel,  though  not  unusual,  acc(jniiia- 
niment,  ]ierhaps  the  great  bull-frog  elevates  his  green  head 
and  brassy  eyes  from  the  stagnant  pool,  and  calls  out  in  a  loud 
and  echoing  l)ellow,  '70' rroo,  'warroo,  'wonorroo,  'bodivo,  \vhi(  h 
is  again  answered,  or,  as  it  were,  merely  varied  by  the  creakinir 
or  cackling  voice  of  his  feathered  neighbors.  This  curious 
concert,  uttered  as  it  were  from  the  still  and  sable  waters  uf 
the  Styx,  is  at  once  both  ludicrous  and  solemn. 

About  the  end  of  April  or  early  in  May,  in  the  middle  ami 
northern  parts  of  the  L'nion,  the  Red  Winged  Blackbirds  (om- 
mence  constructing  their  nests.  The  situation  made  choice  of 
is  generally  in  some  marsh,  swamji,  or  wet  meadow,  aboundiiy 
with  alder  {A/iiiis)  or  button-bushes  {Ceplialauthits)  ;  in  tluH\ 
commonly  at  the  height  of  five  to  seven  feet  from  the  gmund. 
or  sometimes  hi  a  detached  bush  or  tussock  of  rank  gras^  in 
the  meadow,  the  nest  is  formed.  Outwardly  it  is  comi)()sed  uf 
a  considerable  quantity  of  the  long  dry  leaves  of  sedge-grass 
(G/zva),  or  otlier  kinds  collected  in  wet  situations,  and  oca- 
sionally  the  slender  leaves  of  the  flag  {Iris)  carried  round  all 
the  adjoining  twigs  of  the  bush  by  way  of  support  or  suspni 
sion,  and  sometimes  blended  with  strips  of  the  lint  of  the 
swamp  Asilcpias,  or  silk-weed  {Asclcpias  incarnata).  Hn^^ 
whole  of  this  exterior  structure  is  also  twisted  in  and  out,  ami 
carried  in  loops  from  one  side  of  the  nest  to  the  other,  iiatty 


much  ; 

and  ha 

widl  as 

grass  re 

.stout  ai 

well  lin( 

{Scirpi) 

adjoinin 

caution 

white,  ti: 

pit-',  and 

<l;irk   hro 

^iliiiost  w, 

luonly   in 

fimale  is 

alarm  are 

restless  ir 

I't'iugs  tog 

"liose  nes 

'''lie  fcmali 

clu'ef  they 

to  others 

"■liich  resei 

;i'-e  taken  0 

<<"•  .several 

tliey  again  c 

meadow  or 

July  .ind  Ai 

'Jt'gin  t(j  \\y 

'''•'"'■e  on  th( 

'""I'l  imremiti 

direct  their  r 

•\l)out  the 

'""rmidablc   r 

"'li'-'i  IS  n„H 

"•hirling  and  i 

•''"  ''s  to  dark 


RED-WIXGED   RLACKRIRD. 


99 


iniirh  in  the  manner  of  the  Orioles,  but  made  of  less  flexible 
and  liandsome  materials.     'l"he  large  interstices  that  remain,  as 
will  as  the  bottom,  are  then  filled  in  with  rotten  wood,  marsh- 
^'ra>s  routs,  fibrous  peat,  or  mud,  so  as  to  form,  when  dry,  a 
^lout  and  substantial,  though  concealed  shell,  the  whole  very 
well  lined  with  fine  dry  stalks  of  grass  or  with  slender  rushes 
(.SV///'/).     When  the  nest  is  in  a  tussock,  it  is  also  tied  to  the 
adjoining  stalks  of  herbage ;   but  when  on  the  ground  this  pre- 
caution of  fixity  is   laid  aside.     The  eggs  are  from  3  to  5, 
whitr,  tinged  with  blue,  marked  with  faint  streaks  of  light  pur- 
ple, and  long,  straggling,  seri)entine  lines  and  dashes  of  very 
dirk  brown  ;  the  markings  not  very  numerous,  and  disposed 
almost  wholly  at  the  greater  end.    They  raise  two  broods  coin- 
munlv   in   the  season.     If  the   nest  is  approached   while  the 
Knialc  is  sitting,  or  when  the  young  are  hatched,  loud  cries  of 
alarni  are  made  by  both  parties,  but  more  particular!}'  by  the 
ri'stlcss  male,  who   flies  to  meet  the  intruder,  and  generally 
lnin^s  together  the  whole  symjjathizing  com])any  of  his  fellows, 
whose  nests  sometimes  are  within  a  few  yards  of  each  other. 
The  female  cries  \]iieah,  'piicah,  and  at  length,  when  the  mis- 
(hiefihey  dreaded  is  accomplished,  the  louder  notes  give  way 
to  others  which  are  more  still,  slow,  and  mournful;  one  of 
which  resembles  fai,  fai,  or  tea  and  f  tshcah.    When  the  young 
are  taken  or  destroyed,  the  pair  continue  restless  and  dejected 
for  several  days  ;  but  from  the  force  of  their  gregarious  habit 
they  a.gain  commence  building,  usually  soon  after,  in  the  same 
meadow  or  swamp  with  their  neighbors.     In  the  latter  part  of 
July  and  August  the  young  birds,  now  resembling  the  female. 
hegiii  to  dy  in  flocks  and  release  themselves  partly  from  dejjen- 
ilence  on  their  parents,  whose  cares  u])  to  this  time  are  faithful 
and  unremitting  ;  a  few  males  only  seem  inclined  to  stay  and 
direct  their  motions. 

About  the  beginning  of  Sei)tember  these  flocks,  by  their 
tDrmidable  numbers,  do  great  damage  to  the  unripe  corn» 
which  IS  now  a  favorite  repast ;  and  they  are  sometimes  seen 
whirling  and  driving  over  the  devoted  cornfields  and  meadows 
•so  as  to  darken  the  air  with  their  numbers.     'I'he  destruction 


lOO 


SINGING   IJIRDS. 


at  this  time  made  among  them  by  the  gun  and  the  Hawks  pro- 
duces but  little  effect  upon  the  remainder,  who  continue  finr- 
lessly,  and  in  spite  of  all  opposition,  from  morning  to  night 
to  ravage  the  cornfields  while  anything  almost  remains  to  be 
eaten,  'i'he  farms  near  the  sea-coast,  or  alluvial  situation^, 
however,  are  their  favorite  haunts ;  and  towards  the  close  of 
Scjjtember,  the  corn  becoming  hard,  it  is  at  length  rejected  for 
the  seeds  of  the  wiltl  rice  {Zizauia  aquaiica)  and  other  a(iti;ui(' 
plants,  which  now  begin  to  ripen,  and  afford  a  more  harmless 
and  cheap  repast  to  these  dauntless  marauders.  At  this  time. 
also,  they  begin  to  roost  in  the  reeds,  whither  they  rejKiir  in 
large  flocks  every  evening  from  all  the  neighboring  quarters  of 
the  country ;  ujjon  these  they  perch  or  cling,  so  as  to  obtain  a 
support  above  the  surrounding  waters  of  the  marsh.  W  hen 
the  reeds  become  dry,  advantage  is  taken  of  the  circumstance 
to  destroy  these  unfortunate  gormandizers  by  fire  ;  and  those 
who  might  esca])e  the  flames  are  shot  down  in  vast  numbers  a-. 
they  hover  and  scream  around  the  spreading  conflagration. 
Ivarly  in  November  they  generally  leave  the  Northern  and 
colder  States,  with  tie  exception  of  straggling  parties,  who 
still  continue  to  glean  subsistence,  in  the  shelter  of  the  sea- 
coast,  in  I  )elaware,  Maryland,  and  even  in  the  cold  climate  of 
the  State  of  Massachusetts.^ 

'I'o  those  who  seem  inclined  to  extirpate  these  erratic  depre- 
dators, Wilson  justly  remarks,  as  a  balance  against  the  damage 
they  commit,  the  service  they  perform  in  the  s])ring  season,  hy 
the  immense  number  of  insects  and  their  lar\-?e  which  thcv 
destroy,  as  iheir  principal  food,  and  which  are  of  kind-,  imot 
injurious  to  the  husbandman.  Indeed,  Kalm  remarked  that 
after  a  gre.it  destniction  made  among  these  and  the  common 
lilackbirds  for  the  legal  reward  of  3  pence  a  do/en.  the 
Northern  States,  in  1749,  experienced  a  complete  loss  of  thi 
grass  and  grain  crops,  which  were  now  devoured  by  insK  ts. 

Like  the  Trooi)ial   {Oriohis  icterus,  L.vnt.),  the   Kedwin: 
shows  attachment  and  docility  in  confinement,  becomin;^,  hko 


'  My  friend  Mr.  S.  Green,  of  Boston,  assures  nie  that  he  lias  seen  tl 
near  Xewton,  in  a  coilar-swanip,  in  January. 


bird' 


RED-WINGED   ULACKBIRD. 


lOI 


(Icpre- 
tlamr.ge 
Ison.  by 
1-h  ihcy 
nio-t 
1  that 
1)111  mo'.i 
.-n,  the 
,f  tlv 


ihc  Starling,  familiar  with  those  who  t'cod  him,  and  repaying 
tlic  attention  he  receives,  by  singing  his  monotonous  ditty 
iin  uy  freely,  consisting,  as  we  have  already  remarked,  of  vari- 
ous odd,  grating,  shrill,  guttural,  and  sometimes  warbling  tones, 
\\hi(  h  become  at  length  somewhat  agreeable  to  the  ear;  and 
instances  are  said  to  have  occurred  of  their  acquiring  the  power 
of  articulating  several  words  pretty  distinctly. 

'\'hc  llesh  of  this  bird  is  but  little  esteemed  except  when 
vouii.;.  being  dark  and  tough  like  that  of  the  Starling ;  yet  in 
sonic  of  the  markets  of  the  United  States  they  are  at  times 
c\ii(»i.d  t.)r  sale. 

Tlu  Red-wing  is  a  common  summer  visitor  to  the  Eastern  States 
and  Canada,  breeding  as  far  north  as  latitude  50°.  In  the  West  it 
iiin,Lii->  ihniugl)  the  Saskatchewan  valley  to  C'.reat  Slave  Lake.  It 
wintLrs  soulii  to  Mexico  ;  but  a  few  individuals  have  I)ecn  known  to 
Ijiavc  a  New  England  winter.  During  the  winter  of  iS8i;-90.  a 
male  was  seen  al)out  the  Eresh  Pond  marshes  by  several  members 


of  the  Nuttall  Club  of  Cambridge. 


Xorr..  — The  Bahamax  Rkd-wixg  (A.  phwuicus  hiyanti).  a 
^ni.iller.  darker  race,  is  found  on  the  Bahama  Islands  and  in  south- 
ern Florida. 


YELLOW-HEADED    BLACKBIRD. 

X.WriKKEPHAI.US   X.\N'I  HOCF.PHAIX'S. 

CiiAR.  Male  :  licad.  neck,  and  breast  yellow  ;  large  patch  on  wing 
white;  other  jiarts  black.  Female  and  younsj;  :  general  color  blackish 
brown;  wings  without  the  white  spot;  throat  and  breast  dull  vcllnw. 
Length   9   to  1 1  inches. 

iVrst.  —  Of  dried  grass,  firmly  woven  and  fastened  to  twigs  of  a  Ini-h  nr 
stalks  of  rushes,  in  a  marsh  or  swampy  meadow. 

■^C'-f'  —  2-6  ;  grayish  white,  sometimes  with  a  green  tint,  irregulaily 
marked  with  brown;    1.05  X  0.70. 

The  Yellow-headed  Troopial,  though  long  known  as  an 
inhabitant  of  South  America,  was  only  recently  added  to  the 
fauna  of  the  L'nited  States  by  Major  Long's  expedition.  It 
was  seen  in  great  numbers  near  the  banks  of  the  River  Platte, 
around  the  villages  of  the  Pawnees,  about  the  middle  of  May: 
and  the  different  sexes  were  sometimes  observed  associated  in 
separate  flocks,  as  the  breeding  season  had  not  yet  probalily 
commenced.  The  range  of  this  fine  species  is,  a])par(.'iuly, 
from  Cayenne,  in  tropical  America,  to  the  banks  of  the  River 
Missouri,  where  Mr.  Townsend.and  myself  observed  exanij^les 
not  far  from  the  settled  line  of  Missouri  State.  It  has  been 
seen  by  Dr.  Richardson,  in  summer,  as  far  as  the  58th  par- 
allel.    Its  visits  in  the.L'nited  States  are  yet  wholly  confined  to 


the 
^lr,i 
in 

,i(  t( 

Jllr 

m   I 

>(inn 

Lir\;u 

dcpci 

iih-icrv 

Iron  I 

On 

aruniii 

the    \\ 

'ine\-  k 


\l 


YELLUW-IIEADED   HLACKIHRD. 


103 


till'  west  side  of  the  Mississippi,  beyond  which,  not  even  a 
^UMUiilcr  has  been  seen.  'I'hese  birds  assemble  in  llocks,  and 
in  .ill  their  movements,  aerial  evolutions,  and  predatory  char- 
■M\vy.  a])pear  as  the  counterpart  of  their  Red-winged  relatives. 
They  are  also  seen  to  freciuent  the  ground  in  search  of  food, 
ill  ihc  manner  of  the  Cow-Bunting,  or  'rroojiial.  In  the 
>|iring  season  they  wage  war  upon  the  insect  tribes  and  their 
lar\ie,  like  the  Red-wings,  but  in  autumn  they  ])rincii)ally 
depend  on  the  seeds  of  vegetables.  At  Demerara,  Watcrton 
observed  them  in  flocks,  and,  as  might  have  been  suspected 
froiii  their  habits,  they  were  very  greedy  after  Indian  corn. 

( )u  the  2(1  of  May,  in  our  western  tour  across  the  continent, 
anjund  the  Kansa  Indian  Agency,  we  now  saw  abundance  of 
the  \'ell()w-heade(l  Troopial,  associated  with  the  Cowbird. 
They  ke])t  wholly  on  the  ground  in  com])nnies,  the  males,  at 
this  time,  by  themselves.  In  loose  soil  they  dig  into  the  earth 
with  tlieir  bills  in  quest  of  insects  and  larvre,  are  very  active, 
>tr;iililk'  al)()ut  with  a  quaint  gait,  and  now  and  then,  in  the 
inumer  of  the  ("owbird,  whistle  out  with  great  effort  a  chuck- 
linu  note  sounibng  like  ko-kukklc-'dlt,  often  varying  into  a 
straining  squeak,  as  if  using  their  utmost  endeavor  to  make 
sdiiic  kind  of  noise  in  token  of  sociability.  Their  music  is, 
however,  even  inferior  to  the  harsh  note  of  the  Cowbird. 
Ill  the  month  of  June,  by  the  edge  of  a  grassy  marsh,  in  the 
'ilHii  phiin  of  the  l^latte,  several  hundred  miles  inland,  Mr. 
To'.\n>end  tound  the  nest  of  this  species  built  imder  a  tussock 
lomieil  of  fine  grasses  and  canopied  over  like  that  of  the 
Sliinirlhu  or  Meadow  Lark. 

While  essentially  a  bird  of  the  prairie,  this  species  occurs  rcg- 
uhniv  and  in  abundance  in  Wisconsin  and  Illinois.  It  has  been 
i>hstrved  occasionally  in  southern  Ontario,  and  exami^les  have  been 
taken  at  Point  des  Monts,  on  the  Cull"  ol"  St.  Lawrence,  and  in 
Massachusetts,  Pennsylvania,  South  Carolina,  and  Florida. 


104 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


cowniRi). 

COW    liLACKUlKl). 
Moi.olllKl'S    AIKR. 

CllAK.  Male:  liead  and  iKck  dull  lirowu  ;  other  parts  glossy  bin  k 
I'L-male  aiul  youiiy  ■,  brownish  gray,  paler  below,  with  dark  >ticaL- 
Ixni^th  7    to  S   inches. 

^\'.>7.  Does  not  build  any,  but  lays  its  cg^s  in  nests  of  (jther  species, 
usuallv  of  smaller  birds,  such  as  the  Yellow  Warbler,  Chipping  Spairiw, 
or  one  of  the  X'ireos. 

/V.^'i. ?  (numljcr  unknown,  probably  4)  ;  dull  white,  somelinies  niih 

green  or  buff  tint,  irregularly  niarkeil  with  various  shades  of  brouii; 
0.S5  X  0G5. 

The  Cow-pen  Bird,  perpetually  j^Tegaiiotis  and  nittini:,  is 
observed  to  enter  the  Middle  and  Northern  States  hi  the  latter 
end  of  March  or  the  beghmhig  of  April.  They  make  their  mi- 
gration now  chielly  lunler  cover  of  the  night,  or  early  dawn  ; 
and  as  the  season  becomes  milder  they  pass  onto  Canada,  ami 
perhaps  follow  the  Warblers  and  other  small  birds  into  the 
farthest  regions  of  the  north,  for  they  are  seen  no  more  alter 
the  middle  of  June  until  the  return  of  autumn,  when,  with  the 
colds  of  October,  they  agaiti  reajjpear  in  numerous  and  aug- 
mented llocks,  usually  associated  with  their  kindred  Red-wings, 
to  whom  they  bear  a  sensible  likeness,  as  well  as  a  similarity  iti 
notes  and  manners.  They  pass  the  winter  in  the  warmer  j'lrts 
of  America  as  well  as  in  the  Southern  States,  where  I  have 
observed  them  in  the  i)loughed  fields,  gleaning  along  witli  the 
Red-wings  and  the  common  IJlackbirds.  They  are  also  very 
familiar  annmd  the  cattle,  picking  up  insects  which  they 
happen  to  disturb,  or  that  exist  in  their  ordure.  When  on  the 
ground,  they  scratch  up  the  soil  and  apjiear  very  intent  after 
their  food.  Sometimes  even,  infringing  on  the  rights  ot  the 
Plover,  individuals,  in  the  winter,  frequent  the  margins  ni 
ponds  in  quest  of  aquatic  insects  and  small  shell-fish  ;  and  they 
may  be  seen  industriously  occupied  in  turning  over  the  h  i\i'> 
of  the  water-plants  to  which  they  adhere.     They  also  freipieiit 


CUWiilKD. 


lO: 


CKcasiunally  the  rice  and  corn  fields,  as  well  as  their  more 
iiulurioiis  associates,  but  are  more  inclined  to  native  food  and 
iuiects  at  all  times,  so  that  they  are  moie  independent  and 
k>s  injurious  to  the  farmer.  As  they  exi^t  in  Mexico  antl 
California,  it  is  probable  that  they  are  also  bred  in  the  hiL;lier 
table-lands,  as  well  as  in  the  regions  of  the  north.  In  Loui- 
siana, however,  according  to  .Audubon,  they  aie  rare  \•i^^itors 
at  any  season,  seeming  more  inclined  to  follow  their  route 
through  the  maritime  districts.  Over  these  countries,  high  in 
the  air.  in  the  month  of  (Jcto!)er,  they  are  seen  by  day  winging 
IJKir  way  to  the  remoter  regions  of  the  south. 

\\  (■  have  observed  that  the  Red-wings  se])arate  in  ])arties, 
and  pass  a  considerable  part  of  the  summer  in  the  necessary 
duties  of  incubation.  But  the  Cow-pen  Birds  release  them- 
scKcs  from  all  hindrance  to  their  wanderings.  'I'he  volatile 
di>po-iitinn  and  instinct  which  ])rompt  birds  to  migrate,  as  the 
seasons  change  and  as  their  food  begins  to  fail,  have  only  a 
ptrmdical  inlluence  ;  and  for  a  while  they  remain  domestic, 
l)as>ing  a  portion  of  their  time  in  the  cares  and  enjoyments  of 
the  ( onjugal  state.  But  with  our  bird,  like  the  l']uroi)ean 
CiK  koo,  this  season  never  arrives  ;  the  tlocks  live  together 
without  ever  ])airing.  A  general  concubinage  jirevails  among 
them,  scarcely  exciting  any  jealousy,  and  unaccompanied  by  any 
(hirable  affection.  From  the  commencement  of  their  race  they 
haw  been  lired  as  foundlings  in  the  nests  of  other  birds,  and 
fid  l)y  foster-parents  under  the  ])erpetual  intluence  of  delusion 
and  (lece])tion,  and  by  the  sacrifice  of  the  concurrent  ])rogeny 
of  the  nursing  birds.  Amongst  all  the  feathered  tribes  hitherto 
knmvn,  this  and  the  European  Cuckoo,  with  a  few  other  species 
indigenous  to  the  old  continent,  are  the  only  kinds  who  never 
maki-  a  nest  or  hatch  their  young.  'That  this  character  is  not 
a  \  i(  c  of  habit,  but  a  perpetual  instinct  of  nature,  ajipears  from 
vaiidus  circumstances,  and  from  none  more  evidently  than  from 
this,  that  the  eggs  of  the  Cow  Troo])ial  are  earlier  hatched  than 
thnsr  of  the  foster-parent,  —  a  singular  and  critical  provision,  on 
which  jK'rhai^s  the  existence  of  the  sjx'cies  depends  ;  for  did 
the  natural  brood  of  the  deceived  parent  come  first  into  exis- 


io6 


SINGINC;   IIIUUS. 


tt'tice,  the  strange  egg  on  which  they  sat  would  generally  he 
(If^tn  ))!.•(  I. 

When  ihe  female  is  disposed  to  lay,  she  appears  restless  and 
dejected,  and  sejiarates  from  the  imregarding  llock.  Slealmii 
through  the  woods  and  thickets,  she  pries  into  the  bushes  ;in(l 
brambles  for  the  nest  that  suits  her,  into  which  she  darts  in  ihc 
absence  of  its  owner,  and  in  a  few  minutes  is  seen  to  rise  on  the 
wing,  cheerful,  and  relieved  from  the  anxiet}  that  ojjpressed  lu  r, 
and  proceeds  l)ack  to  the  llock  she  had  so  reluctantly  forsakrn. 
if  the  egg  be  deiKJsited  in  the  nest  alone,  it  is  uniftjinily 
forsaken ;  but  if  the  nursing  parent  have  any  of  her  own, 
she  inuuediately  begins  to  sit.  The  Red-eyed  Flycatcher,  in 
whose  beautiful  basketdike  nests  I  have  observed  these  c;4l;i, 
proves  a  very  affectionate  and  assiduous  nurse  to  the  uncouth 
foundhng.  in  one  of  these  I  found  an  egg  of  each  bird,  .nid 
the  hen  already  sitting.  I  took  her  own  egg  and  left  tlic 
strange  one  ;  she  soon  returned,  and  as  if  sensible  of  what 
had  hai)pened,  looked  with  steadfast  attention,  and  shifted  the 
egg  about,  then  sat  upon  it,  but  soon  moved  off,  again  remucd 
her  observation,  and  it  was  a  considerable  time  before  ^Iic 
seemed  willing  to  take  her  seat;  l)ut  at  length  I  left  In  i  nii 
the  nest.  Two  or  three  days  after,  I  found  that  she  had  ii  iiii- 
(luished  her  attention  to  the  strange  egg  and  forsaken  ilio 
nest.  Another  of  these  birds,  however,  forsook  the  ne^l  on 
taking  out  the  Cowbird's  egg,  although  she  had  still  two  ol'  lur 
own  left.  The  only  example,  ])erha])s,  to  the  contrary  of  de- 
serting the  nest  when  solely  occupit'd  by  die  stray  egg.  is  in 
the  liluebird,  who,  attaciied  strongly  to  the  breeding-places  in 
which  it  often  continues  for  several  years,  has  been  known  in 
lay,  though  with  ap])arent  reluctance,  after  the  deposili(  ii  nf 
the  Cowbird's  egg.  My  friend  .Mr.  C\  Pickering  found  U\' 
nests  of  the  Summer-yellow  llird,  in  which  had  been  depi  ' 
an  egg  of  the  ("owbird  i)revi()usly  to  any  of  their  own  , 
unable  to  eject  it,  they  had  btu'ied  it  in  the  bottom  of  the  ; 
and  built  over  it  an  additional  story  !  1  also  saw,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1S30,  a  similar  circumstance  with  the  same  bird,  in 
which  the  Cowbird's  egg,  though  incarcerated,  was  still  vi-il)k' 


COWIIIKI). 


107 


iMi  the  upper  edf^c.  l)nt  could  never  have  been  hatched.  At 
times  I  think  it  i)r()l)al)le  that  they  lay  in  the  nests  of  larger 
birds,  who  throw  tjut  the  cj^g,  or  that  they  ilrop  their  eggs  on 
till'  ground  without  obtaining  a  deposit,  as  1  have  foiuid  an  egg 
i)t  this  kind  thus  exposed  and  broken.  On  placing  an  egg  of 
this  bird  in  the  Catbird's  nest  it  was  almost  instantly  ejected  ; 
ami  this  would  probably  be  the  usual  fate  of  liie  strange  egg  if 
\hv  diminutive  nurses,  thus  wisely  chosen,  were  capable  of 
rcin()\ing  it. 

The  most  usual  nurse  of  this  bird  a])pears  to  be  the  Ked- 
cvcd  X'ireo,  who  loniniences  sitting  as  soon  as  the  Cowbird's 
I'g^  is  deposited.  On  these  occasions  I  have  known  the  \'ireo 
Id  lugin  her  incubation  with  only  an  egg  of  each  kind,  and  in 
iithtr  nests  I  have  observed  as  many  as  3  of  her  own,  with 
thai  of  the  intruder.  i'Vom  the  largeness  of  the  strange  egg, 
l)ri)l)alily  the  nest  immediately  feels  filled,  so  as  to  induce  the 
mir^e  directly  to  sit.  'I'his  larger  egg,  brought  nearer  to  the 
hiMh-  than  her  own,  is  conse(|uently  better  warmed  and  sooner 
hall  hed  ;  and  the  yomig  of  the  Cowbird,  1  belie\'e,  apjjcars 
ahuiit  the  12th  or  13th  day  of  sitting.  The  foimdling  is  very 
taiihtully  nursed  by  the  affectionate  Vireo,  along  with  her  own 
brood,  who  make  their  ai)pearance  about  a  day  later  than  the 
Tro()]iial.  From  the  great  size  of  the  parasite,  the  legitimate 
young  are  soon  stifled,  and,  when  dead,  arc  conveyed,  as  usual, 
by  the  duped  ])arent  to  a  distance  before  being  dnjpped  ;  but 
thry  are  never  found  immediately  beneath  the  nest,  as  would 
invariably  happen  if  they  were  ejected  by  the  young  Troopial. 
In  the  s(unmer  of  i<S39  I  actually  saw  a  ("lii]>ping  .Sparrow  car- 
rviiiu  out  to  a  distance  one  of  its  ilv.nl  young  thus  stifled  :  and 
nest  of  the  same  specii's  in  which  3  of  its  own  brood 
'hed  soon  after  the  Cow  Troopial  :  these  survivi'd  2  or 
ind  as  they  perished  were  carried  away  by  the  i)arent 
As  far  as  I  have  had  opportunity  of  ol)serving,  the 
lonndHng  shows  no  hostility  to  the  natural  brood  of  his  nurses, 
hill  he  neady  absorbs  their  whole  attention,  and  early  disi)lays 
his  characteristi(  tinning  and  self-possession.  When  fully 
fledged,   they  qi      <ly    desert   their    foster-parent,    and    skulk 


1  I 

.  da 
ml. 


io8 


SIXOIXG    BIRDS. 


about  in  the  woods  until,  at  length,  they  instinctively  join  coni- 
l)any  with  those  of  tlie  same  feather,  and  now  becoming  more 
bold,  are  seen  in  parties  of  5  or  6,  in  the  fields  and  lane^. 
gleaning  their  accustomed  subsistence.  They  still,  ho\ve\er. 
a])pear  shy  and  watchful,  and  seem  too  selfish  to  study  am- 
thing  more  than  their  own  security  and  advantage. 

The  song  of  the  Cowbird  is  guttural  and  unmusical,  uttencl 
with  an  air  of  affectation,  and  accompanied  by  a  bristling  n\ 
the  feathers  and  a  swelling  of  the  body  in  the  manner  of  the 
'J'urkey.  These  are  also  all  the  notes  of  the  sjjecies  in  the 
season  of  their  attachment ;  so  that  their  musical  talent  rates 
lower  than  that  of  any  other  bird  ptrha])s  in  the  genus.  Sonu- 
times  the  tones  of  the  male  resemble  the  lif|ui(l  clinking  of  the 
IJoboIink  and  Red-winged  IJlackbird.  Sitting  on  the  stumivt 
<jf  a  loftv  branch,  he  amuses  himself  perhaps  for  an  hour  with 
an  occasional  W.'/ur/c  '/sci,  the  latter  syllable  uttered  in  a  drawl- 
ing hiss  like  that  of  the  Red-wing.  Accumi)anied  by  his  mate^, 
he  also  endeavors  to  amuse  them  by  his  complaisant  chattrr : 
and  watching  attentively  for  their  safety,  tliey  Hit  together  at 
the  instant  he  utters  the  loud  tone  of  alarm  j  and  they  arc 
always  shy  and  stis])icious  of  the  designs  of  every  obserwr. 
On  a  fine  s])ring  morning,  however,  jierched  towards  the  sum 
mit  of  some  tree  in  the  torest  where  they  seek  rest  after  thi  ir 
twilight  wanderings,  small  and  select  parties  may  be  seen  grate- 
fully basking  in  the  mild  beams  of  the  sunshine.  The  male  on 
.such  occasions  seems  as  proud  of  his  uncouth  jargon,  and  a^ 
eager  to  please  his  favorite  com])anions,  as  the  tuneful  Night- 
ingale with  his  pathetic  and  varied  lay. 

The  Cowbird  is  a  common  summer  resident  of  Xow  EnglaiKi. 
though  of  rather  local  distribution.  I)r  Wheaton  reported  it  as 
abundant  in  Oliio  during  tlie  sunmier  montlis.  and  Mr.  ^^cIhvraith 
made  a  similar  report  for  Ontario.  It  is  ratlier  uncommon  in  the 
Maritime  Provinces,  but  ranges  as  far  northward  as  tlie  50th  jiar- 
alK'I.  In  January,  if^'^j.  two  s]K'cimens  were  taken  near  Cambriilc^c. 
]\hiss..  by  .Mr.  William  Brewster  and  .Mr.  Henry  M.  Spellman. 


r-'- 


I  re 


.TVcr. 

sum- 
ihiir 


lUc 


Ml'  i 


..mlvi 


1'.    :i> 


rior.oLixK. 

KICF.   I3IKD.     SKUNK    BLACKBIKI).      MEADOW- WINK. 

Dot.iciioxvx  oRV/ivoKrs. 

("ifAR.  Male  in  sunmicr :  black;  hack  of  head  and  liind-iieck  I)iirf  ; 
scnpiihirs,  rump,  and  ii[)per  taihcovcrts  asliy  wliite.  Male  in  winter, 
female,  and  young:  ahove,  yellowish  brown,  beneath,  p.iler,  Mune  huffy; 
li.uiii  >iripe  un  crown.     Length  6ji  to  ~',2  inches. 

.V, ./      In  a  meadow  ;  made  of  dried  grass. 

/•"  Vf  4-6;  white  with  green  or  buff  tint,  irregularly  marked  with 
lilai    and  brown  ;  0.S5  X  0.60. 

The  whole  continent  of  .•^merica,  from  Labrador  to  Mexico, 
and  the  (Ireat  Antilles,  are  the  occasional  residence  of  this  tnily 
miuratory  species.  .About  the  middle  of  >rarch  or  beginnini; 
"t  April  the  cheerful  P)obolink  makes  his  apiiearance  in  the 
souihern  extremity  of  the  United  States,  becominL,^  t^^radtially 
aiiMvcd  in  his  nuptial  livery,  and  accompanied  by  troops  of  his 
coiiipanions,  who  often  precede  the  arrival  of  their  mere  tardy 


I  lO 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


mates.     According  to  Richardson  it  is  the  beginning  of  Junr 
when  they  arrive  at  their  farthest  boreal  station  in  the  541  li 
degree.     We  observed  them  in  the  great  western  plains  to  the 
base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  but  not  in  Oregon.     Their  win- 
tering resort  appears  to  be  rather  the  West  Indies  than  ihc 
trojMcal  continent,  as  their  migrations  are  observed  to   lake 
place  generally  to  the  east  of  Louisiana,  where  their  visits  arc 
rare  and  irregular.     At  this  season  also  they  make  their  a]i- 
proaches  chiefly  by  niglit,  obeying,  as  it  were,  more  dislinc  tly, 
the  mandates  of  an  overruling  instinct,  which  prompts  them  to 
seek  out  their  natal  regions  ;   wiiile   in  autumn,  their  progress, 
by  day  only,  is  alone  instigated  l)y  the  natural  (luesl  of  f>)n(l. 
About  the  ist  of  May  the  meadows  of  Massachusetts  begin  lu 
re-echo   their  lively  ditty.     At  this  season,  in  wet  places,  ami 
by  newly  ploughed  fields,  they  destroy  many  insects  and  their 
larva;.     According  to  their  success  in  obtaining  food,  [janies 
often  delay  their  final  northern  movement  as  late  as  the   rnii!- 
dle  of  May,  so  that  tiiey  appear  to  be  in  no  haste  to  arri\e  ,il 
their  destination  at  any  exact  ])erio(l.     The  jirincipal  business 
of  their  lives,  however,  the  rearing  of  their  y(jung,  does   not 
take  ])lace  until  they  have  left  the  parallel  of  the  40th  degree. 
In  the  savannahs  of  Ohio  and  Michigan,  and  the  cool  gra->>v 
meadows  of  New  \'()rk,  Canada,  and    New   England.  the\    li\ 
their  abode,  and  obtain  a  sutticiency  of  food  throughout  the 
summer  without  molesting  the  harvest  of  the  former,  until  tlie 
rii)ening  of  the  latest  crops  of  oats  and  barley,  when,  in  their 
autumnal  and  changed  dress,  hardly  now  known  as  the  ^mie 
species,  they  sometimes  show  their  taste  for  plunder,  and  lloik 
together  like  the  greedy  and  predatory  lllackbirds.     Altlioii-h 
they  devour  various  kinds  of  insects  and  worms  on  their  lir-^t 
arrival,  I  have  found  that  their  freepient  visits  among  the  gr  i-^sy 
meadows  were  often  also  for  the  seeds  they  contam  ;  and  they 
are  particularly  fond  of  those  of  the  dock  and  dandelion,  the 
latter  of  which  is  sweet  and  oily.     Later  in  the  season,  and  irc- 
viously  to  leaving  their  native  regiv>ns,  they  feed  ])rincipall\  on 
various  kinds  of  grass-seeds,  particularly  those  of  the  Pauicmns^ 
which  are  allied  to  millet.    They  also  devour  crickets  and  gri-^s- 
hojipers,  as  well  as  beetles  and  spiders.     Their  nest  is  fi\(  i  "ii 


the  gr 
grass, 
a  lousi 
he  (!i>i 
eggs  a. 
o\er  u 
irregul; 
w.irds 
The 
appear 
u('(  iir  b 
Very  CO 
I'eriud, 
enh'veni 
ijiiiet  fei 
appear, 
alleclion 
i>  chasec 
liTtimate 
tt'rni[)ti()i 
tin)(s  \x'i 
llu  Sky] 
alK)\-c  til 

li'  aiiDthc 
'lutes,    s( 
almost  lik 
"'"these  t 
■^iich    rapi 
^(■ner.il  el") 
,~'""h  ;in( 
tile  I  I  nicer 
<|"'iint.     ,\ 
li'l'iid  soiii 
'<'  give  a 
imitation, 
"li^  tan.ili. 


IJODOLIXK. 


Ill 


till'  pronnd  in  a  slight  depression,  usually  in  a  field  of  meadow 
Hiass,  either  in  a  dry  or  moist  situation,  and  eonsists  merely  of 
a  loose  bedding  of  withered  grass,  so  inartifieial  as  scarcely  to 
be  distinguishable  from  the  rest  of  the  ground  annmd  it.  The 
eggs  are  5  or  6,  of  a  dull  white,  inclining  to  olive,  scattered  all 
over  with  small  spots  and  touches  of  lilac;  brown,  with  some 
irrrgular  blotches  of  dark  rufous  brown,  chielly  disposed  to- 
wards the  larger  end. 

The  males,  arriving  a  little  earlier  than  the  other  sex,  now 
aiipt-ar  very  vigorcjus,  lively,  and  familiar.  Many  quarrels 
occur  before  the  mating  is  settled  ;  and  the  females  seem  at  first 
very  ((jy  and  retiring.  Kmulation  fires  the  liobolink  at  this 
licriod.  and  rival  songsters  pour  out  their  incessant  strains  of 
cnli\cuing  music  from  every  fence  and  orchard  tree.  The 
(Hiici  females  keep  much  on  the  ground  ;  but  as  soon  as  they 
apprar,  they  are  pursued  by  the  ardent  candidates  for  their 
af!c(  tion,  and  if  either  seems  to  be  favored,  the  rejected  suitor 
is  (based  off  the  ground,  as  soon  as  he  a])pears,  by  his  more 
forinnate  rival.  The  song  of  the  male  continues  witli  little  in- 
terruiition  as  long  as  the  female  is  sitting,  and  his  chant,  at  all 
tinit  ^  very  similar,  is  both  singular  and  pleasant.  ()fteii,  like 
the  Skylark,  mounted,  and  hovering  on  the  wing,  at  a  small  height 
above  the  field,  as  he  passes  along  from  one  tree-top  or  weed 
til  another,  he  utters  such  a  jingling  medley  of  short,  variable 
notes,  so  confused,  rapid,  and  rontinunus,  that  it  ajipears 
alimist  like  the  blending  song  of  sc'veral  different  birds.  Many 
of  these  tones  are  very  agreeable  ;  but  they  are  delivered  with 
such  ra])idity  that  the  ear  can  scarcely  separate  them.  'i"he 
fieiieral  effect,  howe\-er.  like  all  the  sim])le  efforts  of  Xature,  is 
gi»o(l.  and  when  several  are  -.hanting  forth  in  the  same  meadow, 
the  (  oiiccrt  is  very  cheerfiii,  though  monotonous,  and  somewhat 
quaint.  Atnong  the  few  phrases  that  can  be  distinguished,  the 
li<|nid  sound  of  boh-o-lce  bol>-o-Iiiik  l'ol'-o-li)iki\  is  wx\  distinct. 
To  -ive  an  idea  of  the  variable  extent  of  song,  and  even  an 
imitation,  in  ,-,v,me  measure,  of  the  chn^natic  period  and  air  of 
this  fanaliar  and  rather  favorite  resident,  the  boys  of  this  ])art 
of  New  I'.ngland  make  him  spout,  among  others,  the  following 


1  12 


SINGING   I5IKDS. 


ludicrous  dunning  phrase,  as  he  rises  and  hovers  on  the  wini,^ 
near  his   nvdtv,  " 'Jid/'-o-/////:,   ' Bdh-b-liiik,   'Tom   Dciiiiy  '  Tom 
Denny.  —  '  Conic  pay  nic  thr  hod  dud  ^ix  ponco  you've  ciod 
more  than   a  year  and  a  half  a^^o .'  —  'fshe  '/she  '/she,  '/sh  '/■./i 
'/she,''  modestly  diving  at  the  same  instant  <lo\vn  into  tlie  grass 
as   ii'  to  avoid  altercation.     However  puerile  this  odd  ])lir;isc 
may  apjtear,  it  is  <iuite  amusing  to  find  how  near  it  ai)])r()a(  lu's 
to  the  time  and  exjjression  of  the  notes,  when  pronounced  in 
a  hurried  manner.     It  would  be  unwise  in   the   naturalist  to 
hold  in  contempt  anyching.  however  trilling,  whicli  might  tend 
to  elucidate  the  simple  truth  of  nature  ;    1  therefore  give  \hv 
thing  as  1  find  it.     'i'his  relish   for  song  and  merriment,   cdii- 
fined  wholly  to  the  male,  diminishes  as  the  period  of  incubalimi 
advances  ;  and  when   the  brood   begin  to  flutter  around  their 
parents  and  protectors,  the  song  becomes  less  frequent,  the 
cares  of  the  ])arents  more  urgent,  and   any  approach  to  the 
secret   recess  of  their  heli)less  family  is  (le])lore(l  with  urgent 
and  incessant  cries  as  they  hover  fearfully  around  the  inten- 
tional or  accidental  intruder.     They  appear  sometimes  inclineil 
to  have  a  second  brooc',  tor  which  pre]iaration  is  made  while 
they  arc  yet  engaged   in   rearing  the  first  ;  but  the  male  gen- 
erally loses  his  musical   talent  about  the  end  of  the  first  week 
in   ]ulv,  from  which   time    his    nuptial   or  ])it'd    dress    begins 
graduallv  to  be   h.id  aside  for  the  humble  garb  of  the  female. 
The   whole,  both    young   and    old,  then  ajijjcar  nearly  in  the 
same  songless  livery,  uttering  only  a  eh/nh  of  alarm  when  ^iir- 
jirised    in    feeding  on   the  grass   seeds,  or  the   cro])^  of  iiiain 
which  still  remain  abroad.      When  the  voice  of  the  liobdlink 
begins  to  fail,  with,  the  jirogress  of  the  exhausting  moult,  he  ilit- 
over  the  fields  in  a  restless  manntM-,  and  merely  utters  a  br.ikeii 
7>d/''/ee,  'hob' lee,  or  with   his  songless  mate,  at   length,  a  ':e,-r. 
'loee/,    h'lee/   h'lee/,    an<l    a    noisy    arid    disagreeable    cackling 
(  hirp.      At  the   early  dawn  of  day,  while  the  tuneful  talent  ol 
the  si:)ecies  is  yet  unabated,  the  effect  of  their  awakening  and 
faltering  voices  from  a  wide  exi)anse  of  meadows,  is  sinmilar 
and  grand.     The   soimds   mingle   like   the   noise  of  a  di-tant 
torrent,  which  alternately  subsides  and  rises  on  the  bree/e  as 


trie  J3e 

more 

.iiiines 

yciing 

tlieir  ]: 

trees   \\ 

•i.i^reeal, 

\ell,,u- 

appear 

jinghng 

Ahoiil 

wsted  a, 

enter  Xt 

"ere,  ;ii( 

(iel.ls  of 

si^ti-nci-  , 

'iille  inlei 

J!i:-'ls.  .is 

lavurite  >( 

tile  ()( cisi 

■''I'ent  and 
with  this 
^"'iiisennMi 
•'"■•ire  and 
shooting. 

'I'Kl     .Is     th 

take  their  ( 
'ii>'"-  tarthe 
in  the  rice 
ah-e.i, ly  ,^,, 
Jainai'c;!,  wi 
-'rass,  I,ecoi 
•'n<l  arc  in  h 

-Vi-.ir  the 
"'^;  45th  para 
•^  '^■^\'  '••vamj, 
oftli^'<;plfoi 

v>  'I.,  r.   - 


liOlJULIXK. 


113 


the  pcrfornicrs  awake  or  relapse  into  rest ;  it  finally  becomes 
iiKHc  distinct  antl  tumultuous,  till  with  the  ojjening  day  it  as- 
sumes the  intelligible  character  of  their  ordinary  song.  I'he 
yduug  males,  towards  the  close  of  July,  having  nearly  acijuired 
lluir  perfect  character,  utter  also  in  the  morning,  from  the 
trcr^  which  border  their  favorite  marshy  meadows,  a  very 
.mrtcable  and  continuous  low  warble,  UKjre  like  that  of  the 
\ilKi\v  r.ird  than  the  usual  song  of  the  sjjecies  ;  in  fact,  they 
appear  now  in  every  respect  as  Finches,  and  only  become 
lin^ling  musicians  when   robed  in  their  pied  dress  as  Icten. 

AliDut  the  middle  of  August,  in  congregating  numbers,  di- 
votcd  already  of  all  selective  attachment,  vast  foraging  parties 
t'liUT  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  on  their  way  to  the  South. 
IKre,  along  the  shores  of  the  large  rivers,  lined  with  floating 
TrMs  of  the  wild  rice,  they  find  an  abundant  means  of  sub- 
si>tiiii  e  during  their  short  slay  ;  and  as  their  flesh,  now  fat,  is 
little  interior  to  that  of  the  European  Ortolan,  the  Reed  or  Rice 
l!i;il>,  as  they  are  then  called  in  their  Sparrow-dress,  form  a 
tavnrite  ^port  for  gunners  of  all  descriinions,  who  turn  out  on 
the  ()( casion  and  commit  prodigious  havoc  among  tlie  almost 
sileiit  and  greedy  roosting  throng.  The  markets  are  then  filled 
with  this  delicious  game,  and  the  pursuit,  both  for  success  and 
amu^enient,  along  the  picturesque  and  reedy  shores  of  the  Del- 
aware and  other  rivers  is  second  to  none  but  that  of  Rail- 
shooting.  As  soon  as  the  cool  nights  of  ( )(tol)er  commence, 
and  as  the  wild  rice  crops  be-gin  to  fail,  the  Reed  iJirds 
take  their  departure  fn^m  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  and  in 
their  farther  progress  through  the  Southern  States  they  swarm 
in  the  rice  fieUls  ;  and  before  the  cnjp  is  gathered  they  have 
iheaily  made  their  appearance  in  the  islands  of  Cuba  and 
Jamaica,  where  they  also  feed  on  the  seeds  of  the  (luinca 
,'rass,  become  so  fat  as  to  desen/e  the  name  of ''  Butter-birds," 
md  arc  in  high  esteem  for  the  table. 

Near  the  Atlantic  coast  the  Pioljolink  is  not  rnmmoii   north   of 
■'it'45th  parallel  :  but  in  the  West  it  ranges  to  much  higlier  latitudes. 
A  few  examples  have  been  observed  on  the  New  I'lrunswick  shore 
of  the  ( ;elf  of  St.  Lawrence. 
Vol..  I.  —  8 


114 


SINGING    BIRDS. 


BOAT-TAI Li: D   ( ] RACKLE. 

JACKDAW. 
(^IIS(  ALLS   .NL\J(1R. 

CnAk.  Extremely  long,  wedgc-shapecl  tail,  less  conspicuous  in  fcniaK . 
Male  :  i)lack,  witii  metallic  lints  of  ,i;icen,  blue,  and  purple.  Length  1 5  to 
ijYi  iiithei.  I'cinale  :  above ,  brown  ;  beiiealii,grayiali  bruwn,  cliangiiiL;  to 
rcrldir^li  and  bully  on  breast  and  throat.     Length,  ii>i  to  13  inches. 

A'ist.  A  bulky  ^tincture  ol  ch^' jd  grass  and  strips  of  bark,  cemented 
with  mud  and  liiieil  uilii  hne  gra.Ns ;  placed  in  a  tree  in  swamp  or  near  a 
tnar>h,  sometimes  fasteneil  to  rushes. 

^'w>'-  2,-^'-  gfavish  drab  \viti>  tints  of  green  or  blue,  marked  witii 
black  and  brown  blotches  and  lines;  1.25  X  0.90. 

'I'liis  hxx'j^ii  .111(1  ('rt)\v-likL'  s])L'cies,  somctiiiies  called  the  J;!<  k- 
<la\v.  inhabits  the  southern  maritime  parts  of  the  I'nion  only. 
particularly  the  States  of  (leor^ia  and  l''k)rida,  where  they  arc 
seen  as  early  as  the  close  of  January  or  beginning  of  l-'ebruary. 
but  do  not  begin  to  ])air  before  March.  i)reviously  to  whii  h 
season  the  se.xes  are  seen  in  se])arate  (locks.  lUit  about  tlic 
latter  end  of  November  they  quit  even  the  mild  climate  of 
Florida,  generally,  and  seek  winter-quarters  ])robably  in  ihe 
West  Indies,  where  they  are  known  to  be  numerous,  as  well  .i> 
in  Mexico,  Louisiana,  and  Texas  ;  but  they  do  not  ever  extern! 
their  northern  migrations  as  far  as  tiie  Middle  States.  l''evi 
ous  to  their  de]xirture,  at  the  approach  of  winter,  they  are  seen 
to  assemble  in  large  flocks,  and  every  morning  flights  of  them, 
at  a  great  height,  are  seen  moving  away  to  the  south. 

I-ike  most  gregarious  birds,  they  are  of  a  very  sociaMt 
disposition,  and  are  frequently  obser\'ed  to  mingle  with  liic 
common  Crow  lilackbirds.  They  assemble  in  great  mimltcr- 
among  the  sea  islands,  and  neighboring  marshes  on  the  main 
land,  where  they  feed  at  low  water  on  the  oyster-beds  ami  ^and- 
flats.  Like  Crows,  they  are  omnivorous,  their  food  con>i-iini: 
of  insects,  small  shell-fish,  corn,  and  small  grain,  so  tint  by 
turns  they  may  be  viewed  as  the  friend  or  plunderer  oi  tin- 
planter. 


kind, 
i)ften 
liivfd 
lic.inj 
to  s.td 
hiiili  i 
<if   Ntlt 

I'egijili 

mates, 
iiig  of 
( 'iiubin 
I"'(igi.-n\ 

Thiss 
of  its  ()(. 
coriL'ctni 
omitted  1 
JSS6. 


CflAK. 

female  son 

x..<r 
iii.'i'If  (,)"  f, 

'eninitcd 

M'i-ii:ish  \vl 
'•-'i    \  0.90 

This  ve 
in  --wry 
iineri(_)r  to 
"'"ihis  wi, 
foMisiana, 
^^^  ^''''giiiia 


rLKl'LE   GRACKI.i:. 


115 


Ihi'  note  of  this  species  is  loiuler  llian  that  of  tlie  coininuii 
kiml,  according  to  Audubon  resembling  a  loud,  shrill  whistle, 
olk'U  accompanied  by  a  cry  like  crick  criik  crce,  and  in  the 
bncding-season  (hanging  almost  into  a  warble.  They  are  onlv 
ill  anl  to  sing  in  the  sjjring,  and  their  concert,  though  inclining 
li.  madness,  is  not  altogether  disagreeable.  'I'heir  nests  are 
hiiili  in  company,  on  reeds  and  bushes,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  >,ih-marshes  and  ponds.  They  begin  to  lay  ab(nit  the 
beginning  of  April  ;  soon  after  which  the  males  leave  tlieir 
mates,  not  only  with  the  care  of  incubation,  but  with  the  rear- 
ing of  the  young,  moving  about  in  separate  Hocks  like  the 
Cowbirds,  without  taking  any  interest  in  the  fate  of  tluir 
progruy. 

'i'liis  species  is  rarely  found  north  of  \'irginia.  Scvoral  instances 
of  ii.s  occurrence  in  New  I'^ngland  have  been  reported:  hut  the 
correctness  of  these  reports  lias  l)een  cliallenged.  and  Mr.  Allen 
omitted  tlie  species  from  his  list  of  .Massachusetts  birds  issued  m 
1 886. 


PURPLE    GRACKI.i:. 

CROW    I!L.\CKI!IKI). 
Ql'I.SCA  I. US   (Jll.se  ll.A. 

rii.\R.  Black,  with  rich  metallic  lints  of  steel  blue  and  purple,  the 
fciiMlc  somewhat  duller.     Lentflh,  11  to   ij,';  inches. 

X-  .<f.  ( )n  the  branch  of  a  tree  or  in  a  hollow  stub  ;  large  and  roughly 
made  of  coar.sc  grass  and  twigs,  and  lined  with  liner  grass,  sometimes 
cenuiitcd  with  mud. 

/•, .., i.  4-6  ;  extremely  variable  in  shajjc,  color,  and  size  ;  ground  color 
greenish  white  to  reddish  brown,  with  irregular  markings  of  tlark  brown  ; 
i.^i  X  o.tjo. 

I  his  very  common  bird  is  an  occasional  or  constant  resident 
in  ewry  ])art  of  America,  from  Hudson's  bay  and  the  northern 
iiiteiior  to  the  (ireat  Antilles,  within  the  tropic.  In  most  i)arts 
<it  tills  wide  region  thev  also  breed,  at  least  from  Nova  Scotia  to 
l.onisiaua,  and  probably  fiirther  south.  Into  the  States  north 
of  \'irgiaia  they  begin  to  migrate  from  the  beginning  of  March 


ii6 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


to  May,  leaving  those  countries  again  in  numerous  troops  abo  n 
the  middle  of  November.  Thus  assembled  fnjni  the  North  aii'l 
West  in  increasing  numbers,  they  wholly  overrun,  at  times,  tin- 
warmer  maritime  regions,  where  they  assemble  to  pass  tlic 
winter  in  the  company  of  their  well-known  cousins  the  Knl- 
winged  'i'r()()i)ials  or  iJhickbirds ;  for  both,  impelled  by  liio 
same  predatory  a])petite,  and  love  of  comtortable  winter 
ipiarters,  art'  often  thus  accidentally  associated  in  the  plun- 
dering and  gleanmg  of  the  plantations.  The  ama/iiiL,' 
numbers  in  which  the  present  species  associate  are  ahnu>t 
incredible.  Wilson  relates  that  on  the  joth  of  January,  a  K\v 
miles  fron)  .he  banks  of  the  Roanoke  in  \'irginia,  he  inei  with 
one  of  those  i)rodigious  armies  of  lihickbirds,  which,  as  he  ap- 
])roached,  rose  from  the  surrounding  fields  with  a  noise  like 
thunder,  and  descen<ling  on  the  stretch  of  road  before  him, 
covered  it  and  the  fences  completely  with  black  ;  rising  again, 
after  a  few  e\olutions,  they  descended  on  the  skirt  of  a  leatless 
wood,  so  thick  as  to  give  the  whole  forest,  tor  a  considerable 
extent,  the  ap])earance  of  being  shrouded  in  mourning,  the 
numbers  amounting  [irobably  to  many  hundreds  of  thousands. 
'i'heir  notes  and  screams  resembled  the  distant  sound  ot"  a 
mighty  cataract,  but  strangely  attuned  into  a  musical  cadence, 
which  rose  and  fell  with  the  lluctuation  of  the  breeze,  like  the 
magic  harp  of  .Molus. 

'i'heir  depredations  on  the  maize  (Top  or  Indian  corn  coni- 
inence  almost  with  the  planting.  'I'he  infant  blades  no  sooner 
appear  than  they  are  hailed  by  the  greedy  l>laekl)ird  as  tlu' 
signal  for  a  feast ;  and  without  hesitation,  they  descend  on  the 
fields,  and  regale  themselves  with  the  sweet  and  sprouted  --'  ed. 
rejecting  and  scattering  the  blades  around  as  an  evidein  ••  nf 
their  mischief  and  audacity.  Again,  about  the  beginniiiL;  dI" 
August,  while  the  grain  is  in  the  milky  state,  their  attac  k-  iir 
renewed  with  the  most  destructive  effect,  as  they  now  assemble 
as  it  were  in  clouds,  and  pillage  the  fields  to  such  a  degree 
that  in  some  low  and  sheltered  situations,  in  the  vicinitv  of 
rivers,  where  they  delight  to  roam,  one  fourth  of  the  crnj)  is 
devoured  by  these  vexatious  visitors.     The  gun,  also,  nutu  ith- 


^v,•(l  ti 

<-'i\itv\vitli 
^i'l^J-'  l.rou 


PUKl'M-;   t.RACKLL:. 


I  I 


tocu 


.staiidin.L;  the  havoc  it  proiliux's,  lias  lililu  more  cCrcct  ih  in  lo 
cha.-ic  ihcm  from  (Jiic  part  ol"  the  field  to  the  other.  !n  llie 
Soulherii  Stales,  in  winter,  they  hover  njund  ihe  c:orn-(;ril)s  m 
and  boldly  peck  the  haul  yrain  from  the  cob  ihroiigh 


^uaiins, 


Uic  air  openings   (ji   me   maga/ane 


f  thi 


li 


1  ('()nML(|uence  t 


A   these 


reiterated  depredations,  they  are  detested  by  the  farmer  as 
a  pe^t  to  his  indubtry  ;  though  on  their  arrival  their  fcxjd  for 
a  long  time  con:iists  wholly  of  those  injects  which  are  calculated 
to  (111  ti>e  most  essential  injury  to  the  crops.  'I'hey  at  this  season 
frei|'ii.iit  swamps  and  meadows,  and  familiarly  following  the  fur- 


row- 


thi 


ploiign,   sweej)  up  a 


11  tin 


;rul)-W()rms  and   other 


noxious  animals  as  soon  as  they  appear,  e\en  scratching  n\>  the 
loo^r  soil,  that  nothing  of  this  kind  may  escape  them.  I  p  to  the 
liiiu  of  har\est  1  have  imif  )rinly,  on  dissection,  found  tliLir  food 
to  ( lin^i^t  of  these  larva;,  caterpillars,   moths,  and   l)eetle>,  of 


which  the 


y  devour  such  numbers  that  but  for  thi.i  providential 
Lconoiny  the  whole  crop  of  grain,  in  man\  ))laces.  would  prob- 

n 
>r  lood. 


ibl}    be   dcstroyctl   b)'   the    time    it   began   lo  germinate.      I 


wuite 


r  they  collect  the   mast  of  the   beei  h  an 


(1   oai 


dni[  inav 


be  seen  assembled   in  large  bodies  in  the  w 


oods  tor 


tl 


ii>  purpi)sc.      In  the  spring  season  the  l!la(  kbirds  roost  in  the 


( I'lia 


friciidlv 


rs  and  pine-trees,  to  which  in  the  e\e 


nuv. 


tl 


ie\'  retire  wi 


th 


and  mutual  chatter.  ( )n  the  tallest  of  these  trees,  as 
wrll  as  in  bushes,  they  generally  build  their  nests,  —  which  work, 
like  all  their  movt'inents,  is  connnonly  performed  in  socirty,  so 


that 


lo  or    1 


)f  thi 


em   are  often  seen  in  the  same  tree 


anil 


times  they  have   been   known   to   thrust   their  nests  inti 


tlu'  interstices   of  the    Fish  Hawk's   evrv, 


as   if  fir  satetv  aiK 


pidUction.     Occasionally  they  breed    in   tall   poplars  near  U 
halMiations,  and  if  not  mcjlested,  continue  to  resort  to  the  sai 


ne 


Ma. 


for  several  vears  in  succe 


ssion. 


T 


le  nest    IS  com])ost 


<it"  mud.  mixed  with  stalks  and  knottv  roots  of  uhmss,  and  lined 


wiMi    fine  dr\'  irrass  an( 


1   h 


orse-nair. 


A 


ccorMiivj,"  to 


Audubon. 


tlif  siniu  s])ecies  in  the  .Southern  States  nest^  in  tlie  hollows  of 
(ki  lyed  trees,  after  the  manner  of  the  Woodjiecker,  lining  the 
ca\itv  with  grass  and  mml.  'I'hev  seldom  produce  more  than  a 
sinuii'  l)rood  in  the  season.     In  the  autumn,  a.nd  at  the  approach 


(^"•'mmmtmt^' 


lis 


Sl.\CiL\(.j    lilRliS. 


(li  w  niter,  numerous  flcuks,  after  furaging  tlirougli  the  day,  retinn 
Iriim  considerable  distances  to  their  general  roosts  among  thr 
reeds.  On  approaciiing  their  station,  each  detachment,  as  it 
arrives,  in  straggling  gnjtips  like  crows,  sweeps  round  the  mar>h 
in  wa\  ing  llight,  forming  circles  ;  amidst  these  bodies,  the  noti' 
of  the  (;ld  reconnoitring  le.ider  may  be  heard,  and  no  sooner 
has  he  fixed  upon  the  iiUeiideil  spot  than  they  all  defend  auA 
take  their  stations  in  an  iiisiant.  At  this  time  thev  are  aKn 
fre([uently  accompanied  l>y  the  l''erruginous  species,  with  whi(  h 
ihey  associate  in  a  friendly  maimer. 

The  iilackbird  is  easily  tamed,  sings  m  ( onrmenient,  .'.nd 
may  be  taught  to  articulate  some  few  words  jiretty  distinc  ll\. 
Among  the  \ariety  of  its  natural  notes,  the  jieculiarly  affec  ted 
sibilation  of  the  Starling  is  heard  in  the  7.v'///A//(V,  'n'ollilJi<c, 
and  whittle,  which  often  accompanies  this  ncjte. 

Ill  Nutlall's  d.iy  \ariety  making  had  not  come  in  fashien.  aiui 
tiic  s_\,-, finalists  were  eontciit  to  treat  the  Crow  l.lackl)irds  dl  lasl- 
ern  North  .AiiKriea  as  of  one  form.  Now  we  have  three  iMims, 
with  three  "dislinetive  seientifie  ap|)ellations."  It  is  sonnwliat 
diflieull  to  distinguish  these  forms,  e\ee])t  in  extri'ine  jiliasi.--  ef 
l)himaL;e,  for  nianv  specimens  of  tiie  Nortliern  variet)  have  ilic 
di.i,i;n()stie  eharaettr.s  of  the  Soulliern  birds.  'I'lie  preseiU  \My  is 
said  to  occur  oidv  on  "the  Athuitic  coast  of  the  I'nited  States. 
north  to   Massachusetts  and  west  to  eastern  Tennessee/' 

Tlie  r.HO\/R  CkackI-F.  {Q.  quisnila  emeus)  lacks  the  purple 
metallic  tint  on  the  body,  that  being  replaced  by  a  tint  of  broii/,  ; 
the  purple  and  blue  tints  are  restricted  to  the  head  and  neck.  I  lu 
wini^s  and  tail  are  purple.  This  form  is  abundant  throughout  iIk' 
\ew  laigland  States  and  Canada,  and  ransj;es  norUi  to  Hucbnn's 
Pay  and  west  to  the  C.reat  i'lains  I  have  seen  nests  of  tltoc 
birds  placed  on  the  beams  of  harns  in  Xew  Pirunswick.  Tlu' 
farmers  along  tlie  St.  jolm  and  Kenebecasis  rivers  erect  barn-  np, 
tlie  marshy  islands  and  "intervales"  to  store  their  hay  until  it  >  an 
be  carried  to  the  mainland  on  the  ice;  and  these  barns,  bcin^  un- 
used during  the  breeding  season,  offer  excellent  building  sites  for 
colonies  of  Crow  l>laekbirds  and  Swallows.  Tlie  nests  are  fastruca 
to  the  beams  with  mud  in  much  the  same  method  as  that  adc^i'ted 
by  Robins. 

A  smaller  race  with  a  larger  tail  is  restrict'^d  to  southern  Florida 
It  is  named  the  Florida  (  Ik.acki.k  ((?.  quiscula  aii^/cvus). 


RUSTY  LLACKHIRD. 


119 


RISI'V    llI.XCKIJikl). 

Scol.lA  o|'ll.\(;r>    (  AKOl.lNLS. 

I  iiAK.  Male  in  siiniim.r.  glossy  black,  generally  more  or  less  feathers 
Lil.nud  with  n.ckliali  brown.  Mali'  in  winter:  the  brown  more  i(in.>i>ic- 
iKHH,  the  lower  pails  marked  with  bnt'l'y.  l''ein.ilc  and  yonng  :  dull  rn.-iy 
liiiiwii  .iliove,  ru.-ty  and  a>hy  benealli.     Length  S'^  to  ij-^^  inches. 

.\,.iA  In  a  siiruce-tree  or  alder;  a  large  bin  soliil  structnre  of  twigs 
;uid  vines,  .sometimes  cemented  with  mud,  lined  with  grass  .md  k.ncs. 

/•\yr.  .}-7  ;  grayish  green  to  pale  green,  thickly  blotched  with  light  aiul 
(lark  bruwn  and  purple;   i.oo  X  0.76. 

This  species,  less  fre(|iient  than  the  preeediiiL;,  is  ofti-n 
asMxiited  with  it  or  witli  the  Ked-winged  'rroi)])ial  or  the 
('uu|ieii  l)ird  ;  and  according  to  the  season,  they  are  found 
ihrxiii^hont  America,  from   Hudson's  Ilav  to  I'loriihi,  and  uest- 


w.iri 

Uil- 


to    the     Pacific    Ocean.      I'.arlv 


m 


■\1 


ril,   acconhiiL;   to 


111.    they    pa 


ss    hastily    throuuh     l\'nn>\l\-ania,    on    their 


rctiiMi  to  the    North   to    breed,      hi   the   month  of  March    lie 
ohxiAcd  them  on  the  banks  of  the  ( )hio,  ni'ar  Kentucky  River, 

'I'hev  arri\-e  in  the  \icinitv  of  Hudson's 


(luriiiL;  a  snow-storm. 


I). IV  .11)1) 


nt  th 


e  beumninLf  o 


f  M. 


IV,  and  \\-vA  much  in  the  manner 


of  the  common  ("i-cnv  Ulackbird  on  insects  which  they  find  on 
or  luar  the  i^M'ound.  I  )r.  Richardson  saw  them  in  the  winter 
as  fir  as  the  latitude  of  55°,  and  in  summer  they  ran^e  to  the 
6Sth  parallel  or  to  the  extremity  of  the  wooded  region,  'i'hey 
in  the    jiairing   season,   but   become   nearly   siKnt    while 


SIIIL 


rciniiLT  tlieir  younif 


y 


'&  > 


di 


lomrh  when   their  brood   release  theni 


froin  c.ire,  they  again  resume  their  la\-,  and  may  occasionally  be 
until   the  approach  of  winter.     Their  song  is  (|uite  as 


le.iid 


a'Tec.ilile  and  musica 


1  as  that  of  the  Star 


IIIL 


ami 


rre.i 


^ur■ 


pa. 


that  of  any  of  the  other  species.      1   1 


lave  111  a 


th, 


rd  thrin 


iiingiug  luitil  the  middle  of  October. 


They  are  said  t(j  buihl  in  trees  and  bushes  at  no  great  dis- 
t.uice  from  the  ground,  making  a  nest  similar  to  the  other 
^]K'cics,  and   lay  five  eggs,  of  a  jiale  blue  spotted  with  black. 


The  vouul:  and  old,  now  assemblinu  in  larLre  tn 


retire 


from 


'li'.'  nurthern  regions  in  September.      I''rom  the  beginning  of 


130 


SINCiIN(i    lUUDS. 


()(  toiler  to  the  inidilK'  of  N'onciuIkt,  llu-y  art'  seen  in  tlocks 
throiij^h  tlif  liaslcrn  Stales,  hiiriiii;  lluir  ^lay  in  this  vi(  iiiiiy 
tlii-y  ariscmbk'  towards  night  to  ruor,i  in  or  round  the  r(iil 
tiKirshi's  ot"  l''resh  I'ond,  near  (.'ambridge.  Sonietinie-.  lluy 
select  the  willows  by  tlie  water  for  their  lodging,  in  iirefireiicc 
to  till'  ree(U.  which  they  give  n\)  to  tluir  companions  the 
Crow  Hlackbirds.  i^arly  in  October  they  feed  (  hiell\  mi 
grasshoppers  and  berries,  and  at  a  later  pi'riod  pay  a  tran^Il■lll 
visit  to  the  corn-llelds.  'I'hey  pass  the  winter  in  the  Scjiithi  in 
Slates,  and,  like  their  darkiT  relatives,  make  familiar  visile  to 
the  barnvard  and  corn-cribs.     Wilson  remarks  that  tluv  jyv 


casi 


ly  di 


omesticated,  ann   m  a   lew  ilays  become  (|mle  fiiniliar, 
being  reconciled  to  any  (quarters  while  stii)ijlied  with  pleiit 
food. 


lt\-  nf 


The  Rusty  blackbird  breeds  from  about  the  45tli  parallel  to  the 
lower  fur  countries.      It  is  fairly  eomniou  near  the  Atlantic,  bin  is 


ni( 


)rc  abundant  in  the  interior,  and   Mr.  'I'liomjison  reports  it 


cnm- 


nionly  abundant  in  Manitoba.     In  this  region  it  does  not  al\v;i\s 
select  an  aider  swani])  for  a  nesting  site,  as   some   authors  liivc 


stated.     A  nest  disiovered  In'  niv  friend  banks  was  amid  tl 


le  ii:i;icr 


hrancnes  o 


f 


Jack's  park,  near  St.  Jul 


si/.ed  spruce  on  a  dry  hillside  in  Mr.  Will 


lam 


HI. 


NORTHERN    RAVEN. 

CoKVUS    COR.AX    I'KIN'CII'AI.IS. 

Thar,     lilack  with  bluish  purjiie  ljIoss.     I.cni^tli  22  to  zOji  inclu '^. 

A\s/.  On  :i  elilt  or  in  a  tree;  niadc  of  sticks  carefully  and  edin:  ;m!v 
arranged,  linetl  with  i^rass  or  wool,  —  repaired  year  after  year,  ami  tliu- 
increascd  to  eonsiderahlu  bulk. 

Jis^'^'s.     2-j  ;  pale  olive,  marked  with  olive-brown  blotches  and  strciio 
2.00  X  1.40. 

The  sable  Raven  has  been  obsen'cd  and  described  from  tl.i 
earliest  times,  and  is  a  resident  of  almost  every  country  r;  tin 
world  ;  but  is  more  jiartictdarly  abtmdant  in  the  western  than 
the  eastern  parts  of  the  I'nited  States,  where  it  extends  aloni: 
the  ( )regon  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific.     This  ominous  hinl 


h.is  he 
e\(ii  !i 
open  d 
huds   ( 

.■M'lVuig 

indeed 

tune,  li( 

ii>  inse( 

i>  p  irtii 

oiinii\()t 

If  we 

somhre  1 

and  I'lmt. 

ignoninc 

as  an  oj)j 

li-'t  of  sin 

aniioiuK  i 

peojile  yi 

lile  and  li 

.\'(  liidiii 

Ki'.vn  fo 
n  lines  0 
war,  (lee, 
"f  tills  (1, 

tia-r,>t  in 
inlialiitani 

tlle    (   ll.lllcr, 

«iih  ,'1    he 

'"lions  pn 
t'Hi  provin 
Serene  the 
''!«■  the  wo 
times  he  h; 
tile  ekvfric 

n.ituril  tho 
tile  siiperst 
th>'  iina^rina 


II 


NURTIIKR.N    KA\i;.\. 


IJI 


111,  been  generally  despised  ;iml  feared  li\  the  siiiuT^titinus 
t\(ii  more  than  llie  iiocliitnal  Owl,  tlioii^h  iu'  prowls  abroad  in 
(jpeii  day.  lie  may  be  ((jiisidered  as  lioldint;  a  relation  to  the 
'i,irl>  of  prey,  feedin^^  not  only  on  (anion,  but  occasionallv 
si'i/m,^;  on  weakly  lambs,  youii;.;  hares  or  rabbits,  and  seiins 
iiiil.  cd  lo  gi\e  a  [jreferenee  U)  animal  foo(l  ;  but  al  the  same 
nine,  he  is  able  to  live  on  all  kinds  of  fruil>  and  grain,  as  well 
,i>  uisi'cts,  earth-worms,  even  dead  (i.ih,  and  in  addition  to  all, 
i^  ]i  iriiiiilarly  fond  of  egg>.  so  that  no  animal  seems  more  triilv 
()inni\orous  than  the  Kaven. 

Hue  take  into  consideratitjn  his  indiscriniinating  \ora(  ity. 
xniibre  livery,  disc.urdanl,  croaking  cry,  with  his  igniil)le,  wild, 
and  iunereal  aspect,  we  need  not  be  stirjirised  that  in  times  of 
i^iinrinre  and  error  he  shonld  have  bi'en  so  generally  regarded 
a>  ,111  object  of  disgust  and  fear,  lie  stood  |ire-eminent  in  the 
li-.t  wf  minister  birds,  or  those  whose  only  premonition  was  the 
aiiiioiuK  ing  of  misfortunes  ;  and.  strange  to  tell,  there  .fe  many 
ln'ii|ile  yet  in  i;uro])e,  even  in  this  enlightene(l  age,  who  tii  m- 
jik'  and  become  uneasy  at  tlie  soimd  of  his  harmless  croaking. 
Acd'iding  to  .\dair,  the  Southern  aborigine-^  also  in\-okt'  the 
R.i\tn  for  those  who  are  sick,  mimicking  his  \oici'  ;  an  1  the 
n!ii\is  of  the  Missouri,  assuming  black  as  thiir  emblem  of 
wir.  decorate  themselves  on  those  occasions  with  the  iilumes 
of  ihis  dark  bird.  Unt  all  tlie  know  ledge  of  the  l^uture.  or  m- 
tiTist  in  destiny,  possessed  by  the  l\a\en,  like  that  of  other 
inhabitants  of  the  air,  is  bonnded  by  an  in.stinctive  feeling  of 
the  (  hanges  which  are  about  to  hajijien  in  the  atmosphere,  and 
\\hi(  h  he  has  the  faculty  of  announcing  by  certain  cries  and 
artiniis  produced  by  these  external  iini)ressions.  In  the  south- 
ern ]irovinces  of  Sweden,  as  l,inna:us  remarks,  when  the  sky  is 
Serene  the  Raven  flies  verv  high  and  niters  a  hollow  sound, 
like  the  word  I'A'fii;,  which  is  heard  to  a  great  distance.  Some- 
times he  has  been  seen  in  the  midst  of  a  thunder-storm  with 
the  electric  fire  streaming  from  the  extremity  of  his  bill,  —  a 
natural  though  extraordinary  phencMiienon,  sufficient  to  terrify 
the  superstitious  and  to  stamp  the  harmless  subject  of  it  with 
thv'  imaginary  traits  and  attributes  of  a  denn)n. 


122 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


Ill  ancient  times,  when  divination  made  a  part  of  religion, 
the  Raven,  tliough  a  bad  proi)hc;  was  yet  a  very  interesting 
])ir(l;  for  the  passion  for  prying  into  future  events,  even  ilie 
most  (lurk  and  sorrowful,  is  an  original  propensity  of  human 
nature.  Accordingly,  all  the  actions  of  this  sombre  bird,  all 
the  circumstances  of  its  flight,  and  all  ihe  different  intonations 
of  it>  discordant  voice,  of  which  no  less  than  sixty-four  weie 
remarki'd,  had  each  of  them  an  ;'|)propri,',te  signification  ;  and 
th  -e  were  never  wanting  impostors  to  procure  this  preten(!i(l 
intelligence,  nor  peonle  sim[)le  enough  to  credit  it.  Smut' 
even  went  so  iar  as  to  impose  upon  themselves,  by  ilevourng 
the  heart  and  entrails  of  the  disgusting  Raven,  in  the  strange 
hope  of  thus  a])i)ro[)riating  its  sup])oseil  gift  of  prophecy. 

d  he  !\a\en  imleed  not  only  jiossesses  a  great  many  natural 
inlle(  lions  (;f  \oice  co-responding  to  its  various  feelings,  bni  it 
has  also  a  talent  for  imitating  the  cries  of  other  animals,  and 
evm  mimicking  language,  .\ccording  to  lluffon,  I'li/as  \>  a 
word  which  he  proiKJunce.,  with  peculiar  facility.  (,"onne(  un^ 
circuinstani  es  with  bis  wants,  Scaliger  heard  one,  whi(  h  wiuu 
hungry,  learnt  very  distinctly  to  call  upon  L\>)ii\i(l  the  conk. 
d"he  fust  of  these  words  bears  a  gr"at  resemblance  to  one  nt' 
the  ordinary  cries  of  this  species,  ko-n<allah,  koi^uil/a/i.  lU'^idrs 
possessing  in  St)me  measure  the  faculty  of  imitating  hinnaii 
speech,  they  are  at  times  capable  of  manifesting  a  diii:il)lc 
attachment  to  their  keeper,  and  become  familiar  alK)ul  the 
house. 

d'he  sense  of  s  lell,  or  rather  that  of  sight,  is  verv  acute  in 
the  l\a\en,  so  that  he  discerns  the  carrion,  (ui  which  he  oiicn 
feeds,  at  a  great  distance.  d'huc\(lides  even  attributes  lo  him 
the  sagacity  of  avoiding  to  ii^aX  on  animals  which  had  ditd.  nf 
the  plague.  I'Hny  relates  a  singular  piece  of  ingenuiu  em- 
ployed by  this  bird  to  (pieiK  h  his  thirst  :  he  had  ob>ei\eil 
»vater  near  the  bottom  of  a  narrov'-necked  vase,  to  ohiaiii 
which,  he  is  said  to  ha\e  thrown  in  jiebblcv  one  ;it  a  liirie, 
until  the  i)ile  (.'levated  tht>  water  within  hi>  reaidi.  Nor  docs 
this  trait,  singular  as  it  is,  a])])ear  to  be  miu  h  more  sagacirms 
than  that  of  carrying  u])  nuts  and  shell-fish  into  the  air,   aid 


dropping 
to  olitair 

R.neii  b' 
tht'>e  I)ir( 
tioii  for  ( 
blood  am 
suei.il  thai 
ciK'Us  nat 
al|o\\-s  a  ii 
u-ilhoiii  be 
iiie.  —  a  (■( 
''ri\en.  '1 
harmless  tl' 
in  the  de>t 
wiy  well  C( 

I  hough 
binb  of  pas 
<'r  the   war 
They  are  p, 
iia\e   been 
'ih^en'ed    tc 
^■'itirely  aba 
'■''■-'  I'liin,  it 
|<'H-  -roiuid 
iuMt  .ind  di. 
'■"^'-t  in  the 
I  hoose  in   t 
Hind>ofthe 
ii\   in  (  xtcn( 
'lunng  the  m 
the  1iii.|ks   v 
i"it    they    for 
li"kN  ,,t\ii^.  , 
'Tld,    sonK-tiii, 
trre..     Af,, 


NORTHERN    RAVEN. 


12 


droji])ing  them  on  rucks,  fur  the  purpose  of  breaking  them 
to  (I'lii.iin  ihi'ir  contents,  otherwise  beyond  his  reach,  —  facts 
ob^uAeil  by  men  of  cre(bt,  and  recorded  as  an  instinct  of  the 
K.niii  by  I'ennant  and  l.ilham.  It  is,  however,  seldom  that 
the->e  birds,  any  more  than  the  rapacious  kinds,  feel  an  inclina- 
tidu  fur  drinking,  as  their  thirst  is  usually  (Quenched  by  the 
hlnnl  and  juices  of  their  pre\.  1  he  Ravens  are  also  more 
social  than  the  birds  of  prey,  —  which  arises  from  the  promis- 
cULHis  nature  and  conse([uent  abundance  of  their  food,  which 
:illi)ws  a  greater  ni;.nber  to  subsi.->t  together  in  the  same  ])lace, 
withuiU  being  urged  to  lie  stern  neces>it\'  of  solitude  or  fim- 
iiu'.  —  a  conditi(/n  to  which  the  true  rapacious  birds  are  always 
('ri\rii.  I'he  habits  of  these  birds  are  much  more  generally 
liariiik>^  than  is  usually  imagined  ;  they  are  useful  to  the  firmer 
ill  tlu  destruction  they  make  of  moles  aiul  mice,  antl  are  often 
vi.r\  -Aril  contented  with  insects  and  earth-worms. 

Though  sureatl  over  the  whiTe  world,  they  are  rarelv  ever 
hinb  iif  [)assage,  enduring  the  winters  e\en  of  the  Arctic  circle, 
or  liic  warmth  of  Mexico.  St.  I  )omingo,  and  .Madagriscar. 
Tlii-y  are  particularly  attached  to  the  rocky  e\ries  where  they 
liive  been  bred  and  pairecb  Throughout  the  year  the\  are 
nl,-~crved  together  in  nearly  eijual  numbers,  and  they  ne\er 
intiR'lv  abandon  this  adopted  home.  If  they  desciiid  iiuo 
t!v.'  iiliin,  it  is  to  collect  subsistence  :  but  they  rt'sort  to  the 
low  -rminds  more  in  winter  than  -umnu-r.  as  they  a\'ui  I  the 
he  It  and  dislike  to  wander  from  their  <aiol  retreats.  They  ne\er 
r-io^l  in  the  woods,  like  Crows,  and  liave  sufticietit  sagacit\-  to 
ili'Hisc  in  their  rocky  retreats  a  situation  defcndeil  fru'u  the 
niivNifthe  north, — commonly  under  the  naiiiral  vault  f)nued 
liy  111  I  \tending  ledge  or  cavit\-  of  the  mck.  j  [ore  they  retire 
'lutm:,^  the  night  in  companies  of  15  to  20.  'Yhry  p-Tch  upon 
the  bu-hes  which  grow  straggling  in  the  clet't-.  uf  ijie  ruck-.; 
hut  thev  form  their  nests  in  the  ruckv  i  revices,  ur  in  the 
hoks  uf  ihe  mouldering  walls,  at  the  summits  of  ruined  tuwers  : 
and  sometimes  upon  the  high  branches  uf  large  and  solitary 
trrr>.  Af.i.r  the*'  have  pain-d.  their  fidelitN'  a]i])ears  to  '-untinue 
thnni.  '    i-'.  .     'ri,.>  male  expresses  his  attachment  by  a  particu- 


124 


SL\GL\G   IJIRDS. 


lar  strain  of  rroaking.  and  both  .scxrs  arc  observed  caresMin-.  I)-- 
ai)proaching  tlieir  hills,  with  as  nnu  li  semblance  uf  all'ection  as 
the  truest  turtle-du\es.     In  teni])erale  climates  the  kawn  he 
gins  to  iay  in  the  months  of  February  or  March,     'i'he  egL^>  .irc 
5  or  C,  of  a  pale,  muddy  bluish  green,  marked  with  nurmnjus 
spots  and  lines  of  dark  cjli\e  bnnvn.     She  sits  about  20  davs, 
and  during  this  time  the  male  lakes  care  t(j  proN'ide  her  with 
abundance  of  nourishment.     Indeed,  from  the  ([uantit)'  ofgniii, 
nuts,  and  fruits  which  have  been  found  at  this  time  in  the  envi- 
rons of  the  nest,  this  su])ply  would  appear  lo  be  a  sl(jre  laiil  ii]) 
for  future  occasions.      W  hate\er  may  be  their  forethonght  re- 
garding food,  they  ha\e  a  well-known  projiensity  to  hiilc  Uiini^s 
whic  h  come  within  their  rcac  h,  though  useless  to  lluinschcs, 
and   a])pear  to  give  a  ])reference  to  pieces  (>f  metal,  o:  jiiv- 
ihing   which    has   a   brilliant    ap])earance.     At    l'!rfurt.   oiic  of 
these  birds   had   the   patience  to  carry  and   hide,  one  b_\  ,)iie. 
umler   a   .-.tone    in  the  garden,  a  (juanlily  of  small   pie(  cs  of 
money,  whi(  h  auKjunled,  when  discovered,  to  5  or  6  lloriiis; 
and  there  are  ivw  countries  which  cannot  aflbrd  similar  instan- 
ces of  their  domestic  thefis. 

Of  the  perseverance  ol  the  Ra\en  in  the  act  of  incul)  .ti.in. 
Mr.  White  has  related  the  following  remarkable  anecdoU  :  in 
the  centre  of  a  grove   near  Selborne  there   ^tood   a   lal!    iii'i 
shapeless  oak  which  bulged  out  into  a  large  e\cres(  en(  (   iiear 
the   middle  of  the  stem.     On  this  tree  a  jjair  of  Raven-  h,:! 
fixed   their   residence   for  such  a   series  of  years  th.it    llu  >>..'^ 
was  distinguislied  by  the  title  of  "'i'he  Raven  Tree."     M.iii;. 
were  the  attempts  of  the  neighboring  youths  to  get  at  tlii-  !it - 
'J'he  difficulty  whetted   their   inclinations,  and  each  was    an, 
tious  of  accom])lishing  the  arduous  task  ;   but  when  they  arrn^ 
at  the  swelling,  it  jutted  out  so  in  their  way.  and  was  ^■>  \  ' 
beyond  their  gras)).  that  the  boldest  lads  were  deterred,    tii 
a(  knowledged  the  miderlaking  to  be  too  hazanlous.     'J'li'i>  tlv- 
Ra\-ens  (oiitinned    to   buiM.  and   rear  their  \'oung  in  sti  irit 
until    the    fatal    day   on    wiiit  h    the   wood   w.is  to  be  lev.  He'd. 
'J'his  was  in  the  month  of  I'ebruary,  when  these  birds  u-::.iily 
begin  to  sit.      Tiie  saw   w.is  ai)p!ied  to  the  trunk,  the  W'dgv- 


\V'  u-  (ir 
ur  111  iJli 
R,\.i)  i 
her  UK 
uhii.|)e( 
grmii)  I. 

pn\  i.iiNi 
gorged  I] 
iit  this  tn 
fur.  li'it  I 
and  show 
hi:^  lleigh 
hill  nntil 
I  he  \i(Mii_; 
th(Mi-,h  th 
iH-igiil)()i-iii 
!'•'>•'  the  ti, 
of  the  par 

(''<!:,'.   rVV/Ti 

flliirts  lo  |] 
<'.iys  alter  1 
"ight  as  to 
morning  to 
■'lis  arre(:ti( 
>'iininer  to 
'■'-■t'irn  u-uii 
'''■\"iM'  the 
"i>'in'  ti\-(-  I) 

'■'k-  bird 
:hv  hill,  the 
-ton(  >  „f  fri 
'inu-  ,.;,t. 

Til.'  \„rtl 
[■•^'1  ■'  '•  "-e  ffoii 
''"f  tl'  •  limits 
'^-"■t'l'  ni  i,H-n, 


N(»ri'!ii:r\  ravkx. 


125 


anon, 
■:  In 
1  m'! 

near 
>  hail 
v^  ii,;k 

M.mv 

IK'"' 

ml'.- 

Irrivc'l 

far 


w,  •(■  driven,  the  \voo(U  iThord  to  tlie  In.  vy  blows  of  the  beetle 
nr  Miillet,  and  the  tree  nodded  to  it.-,  fall  ;  but  siill  the  de\i)led 
K  ,  n  >:U  on.  At  last,  when  it  L;a\e  way,  ^.he  was  llun^  from 
her  iinient  eyry ;  and  a  \ietini  to  ]iareiual  afferlion,  was 
\vhii.|i((l    down    by    the    twigs,    anil    brought    lifeless    to    the 

\lXi<vj\  I, 

I  .1  voung,  at  first  more  white  than  black,  are  fed  by  food 
])rr\ , I  Ill^iv  prepared  in  the  craw  of  the  mother  and  then  di-. 
LTiiru'i'd  bv  the  bill,  nearly  in  the  maimer  c'"  pigeons.  'I  he  male 
,it  t!ii>  inne,  doubly  vigil. tnt  and  industrious,  not  onl\-  provides 
fur.  b'il  defends  his  fimil)"  vigorously  from  every  hosiile  atl.n  k. 
ami  slunvs  a  particail  ir  enmity  to  the  Kile  wh.en  he  appears  in 
his  luighborhood,  pouncing  upon  him  and  striking  with  his 
liill  iiiilil  sometimes  both  antagonists  descend  to  the  ground. 
I'he  \oung  are  long  and  affectionately  fed  by  the  parents  ;  and 
thniiL;!!  they  soon  leave  the  in'st,  they  remain  pen  hing  on  the 
iieiu'iihoring  rocks,  yet  unable  to  make  any  extensi\e  Ihght,  and 
]i:^>  'lie  time  in  continual  complaining  cries  till  the  approach 
0!  till'  parent  with  food,  when  their  note  (  ha.nges  into  r/•(^^', 
(•'■(?:.'.  ,  rii7L'.  Now  and  then  as  they  gam  strength  the_\'  make 
rt>  lo  llv,  and  then  return  t(j  their  rockv  roost.     .\b(*ui   1:; 


fill) 


(lavs  at'ter  leaving  the  nest,  they  be 


come  so  well    prep;iri(l 


for 


om 


lliuht  as  to  accompany  the  parents  out  on  their  exi  iirsion^  t"r 
iiiiirning  to  night  :  and  it  is  amusing  to  watch  the  progress  of 
■his  afiectionate  association,  the  young  continuing  the  whole 
Miiiiiner  to  go  out  with  the  old  in  the  morning,  and  as  regularly 
ritnrn  with  them  again  in  the  e\-cniiig.  so  that  howcxer  we  may 

a<lmire  the 


'i^e 


the  appetite  of  the    I\a\en,  we  cannot  but 


om 

,f 


stoiuach,  bv 


iiMiii' live  morality  of  his  nature. 

I.ik'-  birds  of  prey,  the  kawns  reiect  t"r 
ihe  hill,  the  hard   and   indigestible    part- 
stuncs  of  fruit  and  the  bones  of  small  l"i>h  whi(  h  the\-  .-^onu.' 
tinir<  eat. 


heir 


as  tlie 


The  Xorthem  Raven  has  been  separated  latch  from  the 


M 


(Al- 


an r  hc  (for  which  latti .  the  name  of  .s///.'tiU/r:  has  hf.n  retained  1, 
hut  th  ■  limits  of  tlaar  distribution  li.ive  not  been  determined.  The 
i;orth(  in  fonii  occurs  ihrou'diout  Canada  north  to  die  .Arctic  Ocean 


TraaEEHHHEnBS! 


WIHBWWWP 


iB?5? 


126 


SINGING    lilKDS. 


and  west  to  the  I'acitic;  but  to  whicli  lurm  Uil'  buds  found  in  the 
Eastern  Status  are  to  be  referred,  has  not  l)eeu  settled  by  ihc 
authorities. 

Of  late  years  the  Raven  has  almost  forsaken  the  New  En^laiuj 
sliores,  tliougii  it  is  still  numerous  around  the  May  of  f'undy,  and 
occurs  locally  in  small  numbers  along  the  entire  coast  ol  ihe 
Atlantic,  and  throughout  this  faunal  province.  It  is  more  abuuLiunt 
to  the  Westward  of  the  MississijJi)!. 


(ROW. 
Cj»K\r.-    A.MI.KICAXUS. 

Char,     lllack,  with  gloss  of  purple  tinge.     Lcngtii  17  to  21  inches. 
A'cs/.     In  a  tree  ;   made  of  slicks  and  twigs,  hned  with  grass  ami  leaves 
£^i;^^s.     4-6  ;  sea-green  to  dull  (_ili\e,  bioichcd  witii  brown  ;   1.7-j  ,\  i.jc. 

The  Crow,  like  tlic  Raven,  wliich  it  greatly  rcseinblc-^.  is  a 
deni/cn  of  rear!}  the  whole  wtuM.  It  is  foiiiid  even  in  Wu 
Holkmil  and  the  Philippine  Islands,  but  is  rare  in  Sweden. 
where  the  Raven  abounds,  ll  is  also  coninnjn  in  Siliena.  and 
plentiful  in  the  .\r(ti(   deserts  beyond  the  Lena. 

The  native  Crow  is  a  constant  and  troublesoniely  abund.ant 
resident  in  most  of  the  settled  districts  of  North  .America, 
as  well  as  an  inhal)itant  of  the  Western  wilds  thrmmliDir. 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  lo  tiie  ])anks  of  the  Oregon  and  the 
shores  of  the  Pacific,  'i'hese  birds  only  retire  into  the  l"')rest> 
in  the  breeding  season,  which  lasts  from  March  to  M.iy  .\: 
this  time  they  are  dis])ersed  througli  the  woods  in  pair>,  an ! 
roost  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  spot  which  they  have  selected, 
for  their  nest  :  and  the  conjugal  union,  once  formed.  con;imii-> 
for  life.  They  are  now  very  noisy,  and  vigilant  again-'  anv 
intrusion  on  their  ptu-jxise,  and  at  times  a]")ix'ar  influencil  in 
mutual  jealousy,  but  never  i)roceed  to  any  violence.  1  in 
tree  they  select  is  generally  lofty,  and  preference  seem^  <»tU'ii 
given  to  some  dark  and  concealing  evergreen.  H'he  n '-t  i- 
formetl  externally  of  small  twigs  coarsely  interlaced  to^;  iiii.r, 
plastered  and  matted  with  earth,  moss,  and   long  horse  liair. 


and  thi 
niiteri.i 
(oiiifori 
Ihe 
tile  11  ei: 
to  .ijipri 
till  the  i 
their  l.Tt 
a  .Miiuui( 

tool  I    to 
rclie\es  I 
l\a\eii,  I, 
I'.iir  luiu 
ull.-,  blow- 
alert   and 
the    Crou 
endued  w 
tinue  the 
till  ir  offsp 
The  Cr 
wiJiius,    c, 
'iiK<-'>lible 

ilC(c|it;ibIe 
biid  e; 

detected  k 
•Jfthe  Part 
full)  pieni 
'''>«'  know 

•'f"!!!  a  grea 
snares  and 
t'H'  Weak  ar 
.V'llaig  rhlrk 
l"":ilci.  iipoi 
^'*!'"ll    MlCCe; 

P'lits  of  the 
'Ti'l.  like  Ha 
ill 


CROW. 


1J7 


b  a 


(lain 

.■rica. 

lumt 

orcsb 
A: 

t   anv 

1  In 

■  •thor, 


an  1  tlii(  kly  and  carefully  lined  with  Iai;^c  (luantitics  of  the  la>t 
111  ili.ii.ll,  wool,  or  the  linest  fibres  of  roots,  so  as  to  form  a  very 
(UMifoilahle  bed  for  tlie  helpless  and  naked  yount;. 

1  lu'  male  at  this  season  is  extremely  watc  hful.  reconnoitring 
till'  neighborhood,  and  givini^  an  alarm  as  any  person  happens 
tn  .ipproach  towards  their  nest,  when  both  retire  to  a  distance 
till  liie  intruder  disappears  ,  and  in  order  the  better  to  coik  e.il 
thrir  brootl,  they  remain  unccMnmonly  silent  until  these  are  in 
a  >iuiation  to  follow  them  on  the  winj-,  'I'hc  malr  als(j  carries 
find  lo  his  mate  while  confined  to  her  cljum,  and  at  times 
rcluAcs  her  by  sitting  in  her  absence.  In  iairope,  when  the 
l\i\i!i,  the  l)U/./,ard,  or  the  Kestrel  makes  his  api)earance.  the 
[lair  Join  instantl)-  in  the  attack,  and  sometimes,  by  dint  of  furi- 
ou.-.  blows,  destroy  their  enemy;  yet  tlu'  I!ut(  her  liird.  more 
altrt  and  courageous,  not  only  resists,  but  often  \an(iiii>hes 
tlu'  (rows  and  carries  off  their  yotnig.  Like  the  l\a\cns, 
cmlueil  with  an  imrestrained  and  natural  affection,  they  (  on- 
tinuc  the  whole  succeeding  smnmer  to  succor  and  accompan\- 
ihcir  offspring  in  all  their  tmdertakings  and  exiiu^ions. 

The  Crow  is  equally  omnivorous  with  the  Raven  ;  insects, 
wiiiiii>,  carrion,  fish,  grain,  fruits,  and  in  short  e\ervthing 
(iiu'cstible  by  any  or  ail  the  birds  in  existence,  being  alike 
ac(  ept.ible  to  this  gormandizing  animal.  Its  destriK  tion  of 
bin!  egg;;  is  also  very  considerable.  In  l-.urope  Crows  are  often 
detected  feeding  their  voracious  young  with  the  ])recious  eggs 
(jf  the  Partridge,  which  they  very  sagaciously  con\e_\-  b\'  care 
iull}  juercing  and  sticking  tiu-m  ex|)ertly  on  the  bill.  'rhe\ 
also  know  how  to  break  nuts  and  shell-fish  by  dropping  them 
ffMui  a  great  height  upor,  the  rocks  below.  They  visit  e\en  tin 
snares  and  devour  the  bir  Is  which  they  find  caught,  attai  king 
the  weak  and  wounded  game.  'I'hev  alscj  sometimes  seize  on 
young  (hickens  and  Ducks,  and  have  e\en  been  observed  to 
I'uiaire  upon  Pigeons  in  the  manner  of  Hawks,  and  with  almcjst 
eiiral  success.  So  familiar  and  audacious  are  they  in  some 
I'.ut^  of  the  Levant  that  they  will  fre(]uent  the  courts  of  houses, 
and.  like  Harpies,  alight  boldly  (M1  the  dishes,  as  the  ser\ants  are 
conveyiiiL^  in  the  dinner,  and  carrv  off  the  meat,  if  not  driven 


128 


SLNGLNCJ    IJIRDS. 


away  by  l)lo\vs.  In  turn,  Ikjwcvlt,  the  Crow  finds  enemies  too 
powcrtul  fur  liini  to  conciucr,  mu  h  as  the  Kite  and  Ivigic  Owl, 
who  occasionally  make  a  meal  of  this  carrion  birtl,  — a  vorac  hnis 
proj)en>ity  which  the  X'irginian  Owl  also  sometimes  exhi'iijis 
towards  the  same  .s[)ecies.  Wherever  the  Crow  ai)|)ears,  the 
smaller  birds  take  the  alarm,  and  vent  upon  him  tluir  \\\>[ 
Mispicions  and  repnxiches,  lUit  it  is  only  the  redoublahic 
Kmi,'  Uird  who  has  courage  for  the  attack,  beginning  the  oii^ct 
by  pursuing  and  diving  on  his  back  from  above,  and  hariv 
sing  the  plunderer  with  such  violence  that  he  is  generally  -Lid 
to  get  out  (jf  the  way  and  forego  his  piratical  visit ,  in  short,  a 
single  pair  of  these  courageous  and  iiuarrelsome  birds  are  Mif- 
ficieiit   to  clear  the  Crows   from  an  e.\t(.nsi\e   cornfield. 

The  m(j.->t  serious  mischief  of  which  the  Crow  is  guilty 
i-.  that  of  pillaging  the  maize-fiehl.  lie  commences  al  liic 
jjlanting-time  1)\-  picking  up  and  rooting  out  the  sproiiimg 
grain,  and  in  the  autumn,  when  it  becomes  ripe,  whole  llm  ,., 
now  assembled  at  their  roosting  places,  blacken  the  neighboring 
fields  as  soon  as  they  get  into  motion,  and  d(^  extensive  d  im- 
age at  every  visit,  from  the  excessive  numbers  who  now  ru-h  lo 
the  inviting  feast. 

'I'heir  rendezvous  or  roosting-places  are  the  resort  in  au- 
tumn of  all  the  Crows  and  their  families  for  many  miles  n)!inil. 
The  blackening  silent  train  continues  to  arrive  for  more  than 
an  hour  before  sunset,  and  some  still  straggle  on  until  ilark, 
They  never  arrive  in  dense  tlocks,  but  alwavs  in  long  lines, 
each  falling  into  the  file  as  he  sees  opportunity.  This  grei:  ;iii;:s 
inclination  is  common  to  many  birds  in  the  autumn  '^  adi 
.associate  only  in  pairs  in  the  summer.  The  forests  and  ,;:i'Vi\ 
stripped  of  their  agreeable  and  i)rotecting  \erdure,  seiMi  ii" 
longer  safe  and  pleasant  to  the  leathered  nations,  i^xpo^cil  ta 
the  birds  of  prey,  which  daily  augment  in  numbers  ;  j)enei'it(.ii 
by  the  chilling  blasts,  which  sweep  without  control  through  tin 
naked  branches,  —  the  bird>.  now  impelled  by  an  oven'iliiiL' 
instinct,  seek  in  congregated  numbers  some  general,  safer,  and 
more  commodious  retreat.  Islands  of  reeds,  dark  and  soHtarv 
thickets,  and  neglected  swamps,  are  the  situations  chosi  n  for 


their  i: 

ka V  I 

ree(|-ili 

tuij  of 

W  iKuu 

low,  lla 

aii'l    till 

and   tal> 

()(■(  lipJLN 

hei  cinl) 


•^f^Misnarini: 

t'un  'li.vnr'c 

Vol..  I.  


CROW, 


129 


tluir  ucneral  (linrn;il  retreats  and  roosts.  Swallows,  lllackbinls, 
Kk  !•  ISinls,  and  ( 'ruw>  sccin  always  t(j  prefer  the  low  Nhrlter  of 
r(.ii!-llal>.  ( )n  the  Ri\-er  I  )il.iware,  in  lV'nns\  Ivania.  iluTe  are 
luii  111' lhe>e  remarkable  Crow-roosts.  The  one  mmiioned  by 
W  iNuii  is  an  island  nrar  Nr\s(  astle  calK-d  the  l'ea-1'aleh,  —  a 
low,  llat,  alluvial  spot,  just  ekvated  aboxe  hi^di-water  mark, 
and  ihicklv  covered  with  rreds,  on  which  ihc  Crows  alight 
aiid  take  shelter  for  the  niL;lu.  Whether  this  roost  be  now 
(icni|/ied  by  tlKse  liirds  or  not,  I  caiiiioi  pretend  t' ^  >av  ;  but  in 
lit'i-mber,  iSjy,  1  had  occasion  to  observe  their  arri\al  on 
k  liv  l^^land,  just  above  the  couunem  ement  of  the  ba\'oflhat 
rr.  r,  in  vast  numbers;  and  as  the  wind  wafted  any  beating 
W'-mI  towards  the  shore,  they  rose  in  a  cloud  and  filled  the 
air  with  clauKjr.  Jn<leed,  their  vigilant  and  restless  cd-n'iiii^ 
continued  till   after  dark. 

lieauires  of  mere  instinct,  they  f(;resee  no  peril^  beyoiul 
lluir  actual  vi.-,ion  ;  and  thu^.,  when  they  least  expet  t  ii.  are 
>(i!iKliiiK>  swejjt  away  by  an  unexpected  de.^truclion.  Some 
}ear.'i  ago,  during  the  prevalence  of  a  sudden  and  \ioient  north- 
east storm  accompanied  by  heavy  rains,  the  Tea-i'ati  h  l^iaiid 
umn  wholly  inundated  in  the  night;  and  the  unfortunate  Crows, 
(lorniant  and  bewildered,  made  no  attempts  to  escajve,  and 
Were  ih-owned  bv  thousands,  so  that  their  bodies  blackened  the 
shores  the  jollowing  dav  for  si'veral  miles  in  extent. 

Tile  Crows,  like  many  other  birds,  become  injurious  and 
forinul able  onlv  in  the  gregarious  season.  At  other  times  they 
live  M)  scatteri'd.  and  are  so  shy  and  lautiotis,  that  they  are 
I'lt  seldom  seen.  WwX  their  armies,  like  all  other  great  and 
lirrilie  assemblies,  have  the  jiower,  in  limited  districts,  of 
'!'iing  \ery  sensible  mischief  to  the  agricultural  interests  of  the 
'  i^iiinianity  :  and  in  consequence,  the  ])oor  Crows,  notwith- 
standuig  their  obvious  services  in  the  destruction  of  a  vast  host 
t  in-ects  and  their  larvns,  are  proscribed  as  felons  in  all  civil- 
I'^'-'il  countries,  and,  with  the  wolves,  panthers,  and  foxes,  a 
I'rice  is  |)ut  upon  their  heads.  In  consetjuence,  various  means 
"fcunaring  the  outlaws  have  been  had  recourse  to.  ( )f  the 
gun  '';.  \  are  very  cautious,  and  suspect  its  appearance  at  the 
vol..  I.  — 0 


^SSBSSSBBM 


I^IO 


SINGINC;    IJIRUS. 


first  glance,  perceiving  with  ready  sagacity  the  wily  mannn- of 
till'  towler.  So  fearful  and  Hns])i(i()us  are  they  of  human  arti- 
fices that  a  mere  line  stretched  round  a  field  is  ot"tcn  fuimd 
sufficient  to  deter  these  wily  birds  from  a  visit  to  the  coriirkld. 
Against  jjoison  they  are  not  so  guarded,  and  sometimes  com 
steejK'd  in  hellebore  is  given  them,  which  creates  giddiiK'ss 
and  death. 

Another  curious  method  is  that  of  pinning  a  live  Crow  tn  th. 
ground  by  the  wings,  stretched  out  on  his  back,  and  retained 
in  this  posture  by  two  sharp,  forked  sticks.  In  this  situ;ition, 
his  loud  cries  attract  other  ('rows,  who  come  sweeping  doun 
to  the  ])n)strate  i)risoner,  and  are  grajjpled  in  his  claw^.  hi 
this  way  each  successive  ]irisoner  may  be  made  the  innddn; 
means  of  capturing  his  companion.  The  reeds  in  which  th-  \ 
roost,  when  dr\'  enough,  are  sometimes  set  on  fire  also  to  pn 
cure  their  destruction;  and  to  add  to  the  fitality  prochuul  li\ 
the  llames,  gunners  are  also  stationed  rouml  to  destro\-  iIm-i 
that  atlemjn  to  escape  by  Right.  In  severe  winters  thev  -111:11 
occasionally  from  fimine  and  cold,  and  fall  sometime^  iki'l 
in  the  fields.  According  Ut  \\'ilst)n,  in  one  of  these  srvcn 
seasons,  more  ih.in  600  Crows  were  shot  on  the  carcase  of.i 
dead  horse,  which  was  ])laced  at  a  projjer  shooting  di-!:aiii. 
from  a  stable.  The  jjremiums  obtained  for  these,  and  the  pric 
procured  for  the  (piills,  ijrodured  to  the  farmer  nearly  the  value 
of  the  horse  when  living,  besides  affording  feathers  sufficient  ti> 
fill  a  bed. 

Thi'  Crow  is  easily  raised  nnd  domesticated,  and  soon  kMiii- 
to  distinguish  the  ilifferent  members  of  the  family  with  uiiiil. 
he  is  associntt'd.  He  screams  at  the  ap])roach  of  a  str.ingtr: 
learns  to  open  the  door  by  alighting  on  the  latch  ;  itti'inl- 
regularly  at  meal  times  :  is  vi'r\'  noisy  and  locjuacious  ;  iniitato 
the  sounds  of  various  words  whi(  h  he  hears:  is  very  thievish. 
given  to  hiding  curiosities  in  holes  and  crevices,  and  i^  wn 
fond  of  carrving  off  ])ieces  of  metal,  corn,  breail.  and  tuoil"' 
all  kinds  :  he  is  also  ]iarticularl\-  attached  to  the  society  of  lib 
master,  and  recollects  him  sometimes  after  a  long  absence. 

It  is  commonlv  believed  and  asserted   in  some  pnri-  ^  f  th:^" 


kcep> 

;ip,i 

l.ling 

|.; 

even;; 

■-%    1 

perclh 

in 

ire  iit 

time 

Int'M- 

Cn)\ 

!'ie  sfr, 

'.iin 

•iniiM.,1 

in;it 

ilivc  ^^-j 

!h  c, 

tiifir  [,,■ 

the 
etlat 

risii  CROW. 


I  u 


country  that  the  Crows  cngat^'c  at  times  in  general  combat ; 
bill  it  Ii.is  never  been  ascertained  whether  this  hostiUty  arises 
tVuin  civil  (Usconl,  or  the  opposition  of  hoo  (liHereiU  .^peiies 
(oiitesting  for  some  exchisive  privilege  of  subsisting  ground. 
Ii  i>  well  known  that  Kuoks  often  contend  with  c.k  h  other, 
,iiid  dri\e  away  by  every  ])ersecuting  means  individuaU  who 
arrive  among  them  fron-t  any  other  njokery. 

Xo'PK. —  TIic  Fi.ok;i).\  Crow  (C.(tiiit'iicainisjh'ritiaiius)i\\{{i^\i> 
tmiu  true  aiitericdiius  \\\  lia\ing  the  wiii^s  and  t.iil  shorter,  and  the 
hill  and  feet  larger.      It  is  restricted  to  southern  Florida. 


blSII    CROW. 

CoRVUS   OSSIIIUGUS. 


('n\u.     lUack  glossed  with  stccl-l)liic.      Length  15  tn  \-])A  inches. 


(•n  a  tree  ;  of  sticks  antl  twiLis  tiiiiilv 


lincil  Willi  Icavcs^ 


A 


yi  ' 


sca-gieen    or    ()li\c,   blotched    aiul    spotted    with   L 


lOU  II 


1.50  X  1.05. 


Wilson  was  the  first  to  obser\'e  the  distinctive  traits  of  this 
smalKr  and  pectiliar  American  s])ecies  of  Crow  along  the  sea- 
coast  of  ( leorgia.      It   is  met   with  as  fir  north  as  the  coast  of 


ev  ;   and  although   we  did   ntJt  see   it  in  the  weste 


rn 


New    jrls 

iiUciior  of  the  continent,  it  is  common,  on   the  banks  of  the 
OrcL^'on,  where    it    was    nesting    in    the    month    of   April.      It 


k 


tht 


common   species,  an 


1   instead  of  asse 


m- 


I'cps  apart  trom 

roost    among    the    leeds    at    nitfht.    retires,    towards 


DM  11 


to 


cveiia)L.%    from    the   shores  whic  h   afford   it   a   stibsistence.  aiK 
perchi     \\\  the  neighboring  wood-.     Its  notes. 


)rol>al)lv  various, 


ire  at  times  hoarse  and   guttural,  at  others  weaker  and    higher, 
llu'sc  Crows  jxiss  most  of  tluir  time  near  ri\ers, 


hovermu'  o\'er 


tin-  stream  to  catch  u])  dead  and  jierhaps  living  fish,  or  other 
'iiiimal  matters  which  tloat  within  their  reach  ;  at  these  they 
•live  with  considerable  celeritv,  and  seizinsjf  them  in  their  claws, 


ioii\rv    tlu" 


th 


<lj 


m   to  an   adioinmiJ  tree,  and  devour 


I'lr  pr 


the   fruits   of 
edatory  industry  at  leisure,    d'hey  also  snatch  up  water- 


■gw^^l 


132 


SI.\GlN(i    r.IRDS. 


li 


i/inls   ill  thr  s;imc   m;inn(.'r.  ;in(l   fri'd   upr)n   small  rrabs  ;  at 


times  tlu'v  art.'  ^ce'ii  r\t'ii  ((iiilcniliiiL'  u 


:ilh  t 


U'   ( lulls  for 


Drir 


in'iv.  It  H  .iiinisiiii;  ti)  ^tc  with  wliat  stead)-  w.itcht'ulnos  tiny 
huvcr  oNcr  tlu'  water  in  sc  ii(  h  of  their  |ire(  arioiis  Inod,  haviii;', 
in  fact,  all  the  traits  of  the  (lull;  but  they  subsist  more  mi 
accidental  sn])|)lies  than  by  any  regular  system  of  fishing.  ( )ii 
land  they   ha\e   sometimes  all   the  familiarity  of  the   Magpie. 


hopping  uiion  the  backs  of  (  allle.  in  wiiose  company  the\ 


lln 


(loiibl  oc(  asionallv   iir 


et   will 


1   a 


■.upiilv  of  insects  uiuMi 


ollirr 


s(jurces 


fail 


liev  AW  also  reu'ul.ir  m  their  attendance  011  tin 


fishermen  of  New  Jersey  lor  the   i)uri)()se  of  glean 


nn 


up  II 


rcfu 


se    o 


f  the    fi^h. 


'Ih 


ey   are    less    siiy  and    suspicious 


the  common  ( 'row,  ami  showing  no  inclination  for  plun  nii, 
the  cornfitld^,  are  rather  friends  than  enemies  to  the  fuinn. 
They  appear  near  Philadelphia  tVom  the  middle  of  Mari  h  t. 
the  beginning  of  June,  during  the  season  of  the  shad  and  lu  i  riii^ 
fishery. 

The  habitat   now  accorded  to  this  species  is  "the  Atlantii  am: 
(ailf   Stales  north  to   Lontr   Island  and   west  to    Louisi.uia."     i; 


occurs  occasionallv  aloii;/  the  Connecticut  shore,  a 


iiu  m.iv 


prohahlv 

straggle  into  Massachusetts;  though  .Mr.  Allen  has  omitted  it  fruni 

his  iist. 

On  the  Pacific  coast  it  is  replaced  by  C.  caurinns. 

All  Crows  are  more  or  less  tish-eaters,  and  in  some  localitii.s  lish 
forms  their  staple  diet.  On  the  shores  of  Ca|)e  Breton,  near  the 
coal  districts,  the  fish-eating  Crows  are  separated  l)y  the  iiativn 
from  the  common  sort.  It  is  said  that  the  flight  and  voice  of  tlusc 
birds  can  be  readily  distiiii^uished.  .Some  miners  working  at 
bei)reau.\,  in  New  Prunswick.  who  were  familiar  with  the  lisii- 
eating  Crows    of    Cape    Ilreton,   drew  my  attention   to  a  lieck  nl 

ning  along  the 


ann; 


n'ently  small    and    peculiar-voiced    Crows   glea 


shores;    but  though   easily  trapped  by  a   fish  bait,  they  proved  to 
be  nothintj  more  than  rather  small  common  Crows. 


Note.  —  The  .\mf.iuc..\\  IMacpie  {Pica  pica  hndsoniia)  is  a 
Western  and  Northwestern  bird,  and  occurs  as  a  strae;,u'k'''  ^"'^' 
east  of  the  Mississip])i.  It  has  been  taken  in  Michigan,  imrthcn'. 
Illinois,  and  western  Ontario;  also  at  Ciiamblv.  near  .Montreal. 


Inis  eie; 

'"'■"in  the  re 

54''i  to  ih( 

f'lc  eastern 

"'"■'f  to  thi 

^'''"■ida  and 


at 
ivir 
.hey 

r  nU 

i)n 

■V  llii 

ollur 

lU   tin' 

,    \\\M 

vin:; 

'avmer. 

r(  h  to 


iitu  ami 

luiil  may 
it  in  mi 


'A.-k 


111 


L'S  fisli 
c;vv  tlu- 
iv,uivt> 
,f  llic>- 
kinu  a'' 
tin-'  tis'ii- 
I  lock  I'l 
(,,v4  iK' 
riivcd  to 


VUi-  onlv 
T,i,,rtln;r. 


liLL'H    JAY. 

C^AMiirnA   rkisi.viA. 

•"nxR  Above,  piir|>li-;li  l)liie;  hclmv,  pale  |iiir]ili>li  urav,  li^i^hter  on 
tliio.it  anil  tail-i'dvcias  :  w  ini^.s  and  tail  liii,L;lu  blue  bari-cd  with  black  ;  wiiij; 
C'lviTt-;.  sccDiidaric^.  atul  most  of  tail-fcailuTs  biMiullv  linjied  with  wliiio 
Kciil  cimspicnoiislv  crcstcrl ;  tail  \vcdL;c-shapc'd.    I,c-iiL;th  ii  to  ij'<  inches. 

.\'..>.'.  In  a  small  conifer,  about  20  feet  from  the  t^ronnd,  situated  iti 
deep  f(ircst  or  near  a  settlement  ;  rouyhly  but  firmly  constiiicted  o(  twiys 
aiul  riiots,  and  lined  with  fine  roots. 

/■.';,'•    4-5;   pale  olive  or  buff,  sjiottcfl  with  yellowish  brown;    i  10 

y  o.8v 

Tins  elegant  and  rommon  s]")e<-ies  is  int't  with  in  the  interior, 
trom  the  remote  northwestern  regions  near  IVace  River,  in  the 
54th  to  the  56th  degree,  Lake  Winnipeg  in  the  4()th  degree, 
the  eastern  steppes  of  the  Roekv  Mountains,  .and  southwest 
n'ard  to  the  hanks  of  the  .\rkansis  :  also  along  the  .\tlantic 
rij^'idn^  from  the  ronfmes  of  Xewfoimdland  to  the  jieninstila  of 
Florid. I  and  the  shores  of  the  ( Inlf  of  Mexiecj. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


/y 


ft// 


.<'^  Mis 


,.« 


% 


^ 


A 


I!  1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


5^^!||y    112.5 

-    Illlll 


IM 

2.0 


U    III  1.6 


s 


m 


w 


■c). 


/a 


o>     ■':> 


i,"^ 


£  .  >--^ 


"     ■'V. 


/ 


O^J 


/A 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


o 


'<^,  ^7 


i 


^n'^' 


134 


SINGING   DIRDS. 


The  Blue  Jay  is  a  constant  inhabitant  both  of  the  wooded 
wilderness  and  the  vicinity  of  the  settled  farm,  though  nioro 
familiar  at  the  apijroach  of  winter  and  early  in  spring  than  at 
any  other  season.  These  wanderings  or  limited  migrations  arc 
induced  by  necessity  alone;  his  hoards  of  grain,  nuts,  and 
acorns  either'  have  failed  or  are  forgotten  :  for,  like  other 
misers,  he  is  more  assiduous  to  amass  than  to  exi)end  or  en- 
joy his  stores,  and  the  fruits  of  his  labors  very  fretiuently  either 
devolve  to  the  rats  or  squirrels,  or  accidentally  assist  in  the 
replanting  of  the  forest.  His  visits  at  this  time  are  not  uii- 
frequent  in  the  garden  and  orchard,  and  his  usual  petulant 
address  of  djdy,  Jay,  Jdy,  and  other  harsh  and  trumpeting 
articulations,  soon  make  his  retreat  known  to  all  in  his  neigli- 
borhood.  So  habitual  is  this  sentinel  cry  of  alarm,  and  so  ex- 
pressive, that  all  the  birds  within  call,  as  well  as  other  wild 
animals,  are  instantly  on  the  alert,  so  that  the  fowler  aiul 
hunter  become  generally  disa]»i)ointed  of  their  game  by  this 
his  garrulous  and  noisy  propensity  ;  he  is  therefore,  for  his 
petulance,  frequently  killed  without  pity  or  profit,  as  his  flesh, 
though  eaten,  has  but  little  to  recommend  it.  His  more  com- 
plaisant notes,  when  undisturbed,  though  guttural  and  echohii;, 
are  by  no  means  unpleasant,  and  fall  in  harmoniously  with  the 
cadence  of  the  feathered  choristers  around  him,  so  as  to  fi)rin 
a  finishing  part  to  the  general  music  of  the  grove.  His  ac- 
cents of  blandishment,  when  influenced  by  the  softer  passions, 
are  low  and  musical,  so  as  to  be  scarcely  heard  beyond  the 
thick  branches  where  he  sits  concealed  ;  but  as  soon  as  dis- 
covered he  bursts  out  into  notes  of  rage  and  reproach,  ar( om- 
panying  his  voice  by  jerks  and  actions  of  temerity  and  defiance. 
Indeetl  the  Jay  of  Murope,  with  whom  our  beau  agrees  entirely 
in  habits,  is  so  irascil)le  and  violent  in  his  movements  as  some- 
times to  strangle  himself  in  the  narrow  fork  of  a  branch  from 
which  he  has  been  found  suspended,  lake  the  pAiropcan  spe- 
cies, he  also  exhibits  a  great  antipathy  to  the  Owl,  and  by  his 
loud  and  savage  vociferation  soon  brings  together  a  noisy  troop 
of  all  the  busy  birds  in  the  neighborhood.  To  this  garinloiis 
attack  the  night  wanderer  has  no  reply  but  a  threatening  :itare 


r ' 


BLUE  JAY. 


'35 


of  indifference ;  and  as  soon  as  opportunity  offers,  he  quietly 
■^\\\»  from  his  slandering  company.  Advantage  in  some  coun- 
tries is  taken  of  this  dislike  for  the  purpose  of  catching  birds  ; 
thus  the  Owl,  being  let  out  of  a  box,  sometimes  makes  a  hoot, 
which  instantly  assembles  a  motley  grouj),  who  are  then  caught 
bv  Hniing  the  neighboring  twigs  on  which  they  perch.  In  this 
giis-ili  the  Jay  and  Crow  are  always  sure  to  take  part  if  within 
sight  or  hearing  of  the  ca//,  and  are  thus  caught  or  destroyed 
at  will,  i'he  common  Jay  is  even  fond  of  imitating  the  harsh 
vni(c  of  the  Owl  and  the  noisy  Kestrel.  1  have  also  heard  the 
lihic  Jay  mock  with  a  taunting  accent  the  X-c  oo,  kr  oo,  or  quail- 
in::,  i)f  the  Red-shouldered  Hawk.  Wilson  likewise  heard  him 
take  singular  satisfaction  in  teasing  and  mocking  the  little 
.\iiuri(  an  Sparrow  Hawk,  and  imposing  upon  him  by  the  i)re- 
tcndcd  plaints  of  a  wounded  bird  ;  in  which  frolic  several  would 
apjjcar  to  join,  until  their  sport  sometimes  ended  in  sudden 
cons'crnation,  by  the  Hawk,  .  srly  enough,  pouncing  on  one  of 
ihciii  as  his  legitimate  and  devcf^d    •rey. 

Hi>  talent  for  mimicry  when  domesticated  is  likewise  so  far 
cajublc  of  improvement  as  to  enal)le  him  to  imitate  human 
s]in  (  h,  articulating  words  with  some  distinctness ;  and  on 
hr  iriii:,'  voices,  like  a  Parrot,  he  would  endeavor  to  contribute 
hi>  important  share  to  the  tumult.  Ijewick  remarks  of  the 
(tiniiuon  Jay  of  Europe  that  he  heard  one  so  exactly  coimter- 
fiit  the  action  of  a  saw  that,  though  on  a  Sunday,  he  could 
s( arc  ily  be  persuaded  but  that  some  carpenter  was  at  work. 
Amithtr.  unfortunately,  rendered  himself  a  serious  nuisance  by 
lianiiiii,'  to  hound  a  cur  dog  upon  the  domestic  cattle,  whistling 
and  <alhng  him  by  name,  so  that  at  length  a  serious  accident 
oc(  urring  in  conscciuence,  the  poor  Jay  was  proscribed. 

One  whicli  I  have  seen  in  a  state  of  domestication  behaved 
with  all  the  quietness  and  modest  humility  of  Wilson's  caged 
bird  with  a  petulant  com])anion.  He  seldom  used  his  voice, 
fame  in  to  lodge  in  the  house  at  night  in  any  corner  where  he 
was  httle  observed,  but  unfortunately  perished  b\  an  accident 
betnix-  the  comjdetion  of  his  education. 

iiie  favorite  food  of  this  species  is  chestnuts,  acorns,  and 


136 


SINGING    BIRDS. 


Indian  corn  or  mai/c,  the  latter  of  which  he  breaks  btinc 
swallowing.  He  also  feeds  occasionally  on  the  larger  insr(  ts 
and  caterpillars,  as  well  as  orchanl  fruits,  particularly  c]H'rrir>, 
and  does  not  even  refuse  the  humble  fare  of  jjotatoes.  In 
times  of  scarcity  he  falls  upon  carrion,  and  has  been  known  to 
venture  into  the  l)arn,  through  accidental  openings  ;  when,  a^ 
if  sensible  of  the  danger  of  i)urloining,  he  is  active  and  siKnt, 
and  if  surprised,  pcistponing  his  garrulity,  he  retreats  with 
noiseless  precii)itation  and  with  all  the  cowardice  of  a  thic  t. 
The  worst  trait  of  his  appetite,  however,  is  his  lelish  for  the 
eggs  of  other  birds,  in  quest  of  which  he  may  frecjiiently  he 
seen  prowling ;  and  with  a  savage  cruelly  he  sometimes  alM) 
devours  the  callow  young,  sjjreading  the  plaint  of  sorrow  ;inil 
alarm  wherever  he  flits.  The  whole  neighboring  community 
of  little  birds,  assembled  at  the  cry  of  distress,  sometimes,  \vn\-- 
ever,  succeed  m  driving  off  the  ruthless  plunderer,  who,  not 
always  content  with  the  yoimg,  has  been  seen  to  attack  the  oil, 
though  with  dubious  success;  but  to  the  gallant  and  (luainl- 
some  King  llird  he  submits  like  a  coward,  and  driven  to  seek 
shelter,  even  on  the  ground,  from  the  repeated  blows  of  hi> 
antagonist,  sneaks  off  well  contented  to  save  his  life. 

Although  a  few  of  these  birds  are  seen  with  us  nearly  through 
the  winter,  numbers,  no  doubt,  make  predatory  excursions  to 
milder  regions,  so  that  they  appear  somewhat  abundant  at  this 
season  in  the  Southern  States  ;  yet  they  are  known  to  rear  their 
young  from  Canada  to  South  Carolina,  so  that  their  mignitions 
may  be  nothing  more  than  journeys  from  the  high!. mis 
towards  the  warmer  and  more  productive  sea-coast,  or  eastern 
frontier. 

Kast  of  the  Mississippi  the  Blue  Jay  has  beea  rarely  seen  north 
of  the  50th  parallel. 


Note.  —  A  smaller  race,  whicli  differs  also  from  true  cristdtd  in 
having  less  wliite  on  the  tii)s  of  the  secondaries  and  tail-feathers, 
has  been  named  the  Florida  Di.ri-:  Jav  (C.  cristatajioriiuohi). 
It  is  found  in  Florida  only. 


FLORIDA  JAV. 


^17 


FLORIDA   JAV. 

ApHI:L(  )C(  )MA    ri,(JKII  tANA. 

("II  \R.  Above,  dull  azure  blue;  back  with  patch  of  l)ro\vni.sh  ^r^iy ; 
till  I  at  and  chest  r^rayish  white  streaked  with  ashy;  belly,  bruwiiish  gray. 
Nil  iicst  ,  tail  longer  than  wing.     Length  lo.'i  to  12/2  inches. 

Xcst.  Ill  low  tree  or  thicket  of  bushes  ;  made  of  twigs  and  roots,  lined 
with  fine  roots  and  moss. 

/•';VJ.  4-5;  pale  green  or  bluish  gray,  spotted  with  rutous  and  black  , 
I  10  X  oSo. 

This  elegant  species  is,  as  far  as  yet  known,  almost  wholly 
(oiirinc'd  to  the  interior  of  the  mild  peninsula  of  l^ast  l"i(;ri'la. 
Ill  a  tour  through  the  lower  parts  of  (leorgia  and  \\'csl  l-l<jrida, 
liruiractetl  to  the  middle  of  March,  1  saw  none  uf  these  birds; 
and  at  the  approach  of  winter  they  even  retire  to  the  south 
of  St.  Augustine,  as  Mr.  Ord  did  not  meet  with  them  until 
about  the  middle  of  February;  from  that  time,  however,  they 
were  seen  daily,  flying  low  and  hopping  through  the  lu.vuri.int 
thickets,  or  peeping  from  the  dark  branches  of  the  live-<».iks 
whi(  li  adorn  the  outlet  of  the  St.  Juan.  These  birds  aj)p;;ir 
to  possess  the  usual  propensities  of  their  tribe,  being  <|iiarrel- 
sonu'.  active,  and  garrulous.  Their  voice  is  less  harsh  than 
thii  cf  the  common  lUue  Jay,  and  they  have  a  variety  of  notes, 
some  of  which,  probably  imitations,  are  said  to  have  a  resem- 
MiiK  e  to  the  song  of  the  Thrush  and  the  call  of  the  common 

Only  a  single  brood  is  raised  in  the  season.  Its  food  is  very 
similar  to  that  of  the  other  species  ;  namely,  berries,  fruits, 
mast,  and  insects.  It  likewise  collects  snails  from  the  mar.>hy 
grounds,  feeds  largely  on  the  seeds  of  the  sword-i)ahnetto  : 
and,  in  the  manner  of  the  Titmouse,  it  secures  its  f(jo<l  be- 
tween its  feet,  and  breaks  it  into  ])ieces  jjrevious  to  swalhjwing. 
like  other  species  of  the  genus,  it  destroys  the  eggs  and  young 
of  small  birds,  despatching  the  latter  by  tviieatcd  blows  on  the 
held.  It  is  also  easily  reconciled  to  the  cage,  and  feeds  on 
tierih  or  dried  fruits  and  \ririous  kinds  of  nuts.  Its  attempts  at 
miiuicry  in  this  state  are  very  imjierfect. 


CANADA  JAY. 

WHISKEY  JACK.    MOOSE    BIRD. 
Pf.RIS(1RF.US   C/VNADENSIS. 

Char.  Above,  ashy  gray;  head  and  nape  smoky  black;  forclnad 
and  lower  jiarts  whitish  gray;  lireast  brownish  gray;  wings  and  tail 
(lark  ashy,  tijiped  obscurely  with  white.  Young;  uniform  dull  smoky 
black,  paler  beneath.     Length,   n   to  12  inches. 

yVV.r/.  In  a  coniferous  tree ;  a  bulky  but  compact  structure  of  dried 
twigs,  shreds  of  bark  and  moss  thickly  lined  with  feathers. 

/s^^VJ-  4-5 ;  of  light  gray  or  buftish,  spotted  with  dark  gray,  lilac  j^ray, 
and  pale  brown  ;  1.15  X  o.So. 

This  species,  with  the  intmsive  habits  and  plain  phniiaLZc  of 
the  Pie,  is  ahnost  confined  to  the  northern  regions  of  .Anurici, 
being  met  with  around  Hudson's  IJay,  but  l)ecoming  rare  luar 
the  St.  Lawrence,  and  in  winter  only  straggling  along  the  < nist 
as  far  as  Nova  Scotia.  Westward,  occasionally  driven  l)y  the 
severity  of  the  weather  and  failure  of  food,  they  make  tluir 
appearance  in  small  parties  in  the  interior  of  Maine  and  miih- 


CANADA  JAV. 


•39 


ern  ])nrts  of  Vermont,  where,  according  to  Atidubon,  they  are 
friMjuently  known  to  breed.  They  also  descend  into  the  State 
(if  Niw  York  as  far  as  the  town  of  Hudson  and  the  banks  of 
till.'  Mohawk.  In  the  month  of  May  1  observed  a  wandering 
hniod  of  these  birtls,  okl  and  young,  on  the  siiady  borders 
(if  tiie  Wahlamet,  in  the  Oregon  territory,  where  they  had 
linihably  been  bred.  'I'hey  descended  to  the  ground  near  a 
>|innu  in  (juest  of  insects  and  small  shells. 

According  to  Mr.  Hutchins,  like  the  Tie,  when  near  the 
habitations  and  tents  of  the  inhabitants  and  natives,  it  is  given 
U)  pilfering  everything  within  reach,  and  is  sometimes  so  bold 
a:^  t.)  venture  into  the  tents  and  snatch  the  meat  from  the 
(li>lns  even,  whether  fresh  or  salt.  It  has  also  the  mischievous 
sa.n.ieity  of  watching  the  hunters  set  their  traps  for  the  Martin, 
fnnn  which  it  purloins  the  bait.  Its  apjjetite,  like  that  of  the 
Criiw.  ajjjjcars  omnivorous.  It  feeds  on  worms,  various  insects, 
and  their  larva;,  and  on  flesh  of  different  kinds  ;  lays  uj)  stores 
of  berries  in  hollow  trees  for  winter  ;  and  at  times,  with  the 
reindeer,  is  driven  to  the  necessity  of  feeding  on  lichens. 
ilu-  severe  winters  of  the  wilds  it  inhabits,  urges  it  to  seek 
sii]i])iirt  in  the  vicinity  of  habitations.  Like  the  common  Jay, 
at  this  season  it  leaves  the  woods  to  make  excursions  after 
foiid.  trying  every  means  for  subsistence;  and  lamed  by  hun- 
gir,  it  seeks  boldly  the  society  of  men  and  animals.  These 
liinls  are  such  praters  as  to  be  considered  Mocking  Hirds,  and 
are  Miperstitiously  dreaded  by  the  aborigines.  They  com- 
iiiMiily  ily  in  pairs  or  rove  in  small  families,  are  no  way  difficult 
til  ipproach,  and  keep  up  a  kind  of  friendly  chattering,  some- 
tniu  s  repeating  their  notes  for  a  f|uarter  of  an  hour  at  a  time, 
immediately  before  snow  or  falling  weather.  \\'he;n  caught, 
they  seldom  long  survive,  though  tliey  never  neglect  their  food, 
l.ike  most  of  their  genus,  they  breed  early  in  the  spring,  build- 
ing their  nests,  which  are  formed  of  twigs  and  grass  in  the  pine- 
trees.  They  lay  4  to  6  light-grayish  eggs,  faintly  marked  with 
briiwn  spots.  The  young  brood,  at  first,  are  perfect  Crows,  or 
nearly  ([uite  blacli,  and  continue  so  for  some  time. 

Aeeording  to  Richardson,  this  inelegant  but   familiar  bird 


140 


si\(;iN(;  I'.iRDs. 


inhabits  all  the  woody  districts  of  ihi-  rcnioto  fui  countries  from 
the  65th  parallel  lo  Canada,  and  now  and  then  m  severe  um 
ters  extends  his  desultory  inij^Tations  within  the  norllurn  liiiii!> 
of  the  United  States.  S(  arc  ely  has  the  winter  traveller  in  tin  m 
cold  regions  chosen  a  suitable  jjlace  of  repose  in  the  \\>i\^\. 
cleareil  away  the  snow,  lighted  his  fire,  and  prepared  his  ti  m. 
when  Whiskey  Jack  insidiously  i)ays  him  a  visit,  and  bol(!l\ 
descends  int(i  the  social  circle  to  ])i(k  up  any  crumbs  of  fnviii 
fish  or  morsels  of  dry  meat  that  may  have  escajied  the  nu)iiih> 
of  the  weary  and  hungry  sledge-dogs.  'Ihis  (onfidence  is  alnioi^t 
the  only  recommendation  of  our  familiar  intruder.  'I'luit  h 
nothing  pleasing  in  his  voice,  i)lumage.  or  attitudes,  liut  ihi> 
dark,  sinister  dwarf  of  the  North  is  now  the  only  inhabitaiii  uf 
those  silent  and  trackless  forists,  and  trusting  from  necessii\  m 
the  forbearance  of  man,  he  fearlessly  ai)proaches,  and  c  i:i\.> 
his  allowed  pittance  from  the  wandering  stranger  who  visits  lib 
dreary  domain.  .\t  tlie  fur  posts  and  fishmg  stations  he  is  :i1m) 
a  steaily  attendant,  becoming  so  tamed  in  the  winter  In  the 
terrible  inclemency  of  the  climate  as  to  eat  tamely  from  the 
offered  hand  ;  yet  at  the  same  time,  wild  and  intloi  litiblc 
under  this  garb  of  humility,  he  seldom  survives  long  in  conliiu - 
ment,  and  jjines  away  with  the  loss  of  his  accustomed  libi  iiy. 
He  hops  with  activity  from  branch  to  branch,  but  when  at  n-[, 
sits  with  his  head  drawn  in,  and  with  his  plumage  loose,  i lie 
voice  of  this  inelegant  bird  is  plaintive  and  scpieaking.  thdiiiih 
he  occasionally  makes  a  low  chattering,  especially  when  hi^  hunl 
appears  in  view.  Like  our  IMue  Jay,  he  has  the  habit  of  hoird- 
ing  berries,  morsels  of  meat,  etc.,  in  the  hollows  of  tree>  or 
beneath  their  bark.  These  magazines  prove  useful  in  winter, 
and  enable  him  to  rear  his  hardy  l)ro()d  even  before  the  (li>ii»- 
pearance  of  the  snow  from  the  ground,  and  long  befon-  any 
other  bird  indigenous  to  those  climates.  The  nest  is  concealed 
with  such  care  that  but  few  of  the  natives  have  seen  it. 


Whiskey  Jack  has  evidently  moved  somewhat  southward  since 
Nuttall  made  iiis  observations,  for  the  species  is  now  a  fairly  roni- 
men  resident  of  the  AFaritime  Provinces  of  Canada,  as  wJi  i-  '>l 
the  northern  portions  of  .^'aine,  New  Hampshire,  \'ermont,  New 


CANADA  JAV 


141 


V.iik,  anil  Micliijjan.  Near  Ottawa,  and  in  the  Muskoka  district 
(,|  (  )iitari(),  it  occurs  rcLjularly.  tlinut;Ii  it  is  not  .il)iindant.  In  Oc- 
tiilnjr,  1.SS9,  one  example  was  taken  at  Arlington  Hei;j;lits,  near 
Boston. 

I  c.x.unined  a  nest  taken  near  Edmundston,  New  Hninswick.  on 
Ainil  7.  i'S83.  at  which  date  the  country  there  was  covircd  with 
siiiiw  and  ice.  The  nest  was  jjlaced  on  a  small  tret.'  near  the  main 
liJM'uvay.  and  not  many  hundred  yards  from  the  railroad  station. 
A>  tlu'  cold  in  that  rcLjion  is  intense,  the  temperature  often  heinsj;  at 
^o'^  to  —  40°  F.  in  midwinter,  it  is  surprisintj  that  the  eggs  are 
ivi  r  hatched.  Uut  the  nest  is  made  very  warm,  and  the  birds  sit 
Idsi .  and  when  one  jjarent  ste])s  off  the  otiier  at  once  steps  on. 

lU  llie  tirsl  of  June  tlie  young  are  in  full  feather  and  taking  care 
of  thiiusclves. 

Xutt. ill's  o|)inion  that  these  birds  ai)pt.ar  bold  and  familiar  only 
u'uii  pri'ssed  by  the  hunger  of  wiiiti  r.  h.is  not  found  suppoit  in  my 
LXiJL-nence.  l'"re(|Uently  when  camping  m  the  New  llrunswick 
woods  during  the  summer  vacation  I  have  seen  numbers  of  these 
liinls  gather  about  my  cami)-tn-e  within  a  few  minutes  after  it  has 
JHiii  lighted:  and  they  did  not  hesitate  to  pick  up  a  piece  of  meat 
thrown  toward  them.  Several  other  observers,  however,  have  re- 
corded a  similar  opinion  to  NuttalTs:  and  it  mav  be  that  tiie  fearles.s 


hinls  ar 


re  restricted  to  localities  where  thev  ;  re  not  disturbed. 


'i"he    Canadian    hunters    and    lumbermen    have    a    sujx'rstitious 


rtspLHt   for  these  birds,   fearin<r   the  ill-luck  that 


IS  said   to   rcsu 


It 


fnun  killing  one,  and  Whiskey  Jack  may  have  discovered  that. 


.\(iii;.  —  The  L.mikadou  Jav  (S.  niiiadensis  >i(^rii<7/>i/if<) 
diffi is  Irom  true  lUiuK/t-iisis  in  being  darker  in  general  coloration 
It  is  restricted  to  the  coast  region  of  Labrador. 


.ll''>.,.l'>'*-' 


TUFn:i)  rrrMOLSK. 

I'akls  incoLoK. 

ClIAK.  Above,  bluish  ash;  beneath,  dull  white;  flanks  tinged  wiih 
yellowish  brown ;  foieliead  black  ,  head  conspicuously  crested.  Lcn-tii 
5^*4  to  6/3  inches. 

.\\s/.  In  a  cavity  of  a  tree  or  slump  ;  conii)osctl  of  leaves,  uiosm,  ui 
woollen  material,  lined  with  feathers. 

.^A'V-i-  5-!^  »  white  or  pale  cream,  spoiled  with  reddish  brown;  0.73 
X  0.55. 

From  the  geogr;i])hir  limits  of  this  si)ecies,  as  it  occurs  to 
me,  I  am  incUned  to  lieHevc  that  the  bird  seen  in  (Ireenlaml 
may  be  tUfferent  from  the  i)resent,  as  it  scarcely  ajipears  to 
exist  north  beyond  the  States  of  Pennsylvania  or  New  \'()rk. 
They  are  seldom,  if  ever,  seen  or  heard  in  this  part  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  insteatl  of  being  more  alnrndant  to  the  north,  ,b 
believed  by  Wilson,  they  are  probably  not  known  there  at  all. 
In  the  Southern  States,  at  least  in  winter  and  spring,  they  :m 
very  common,  and  present  all  the  usual  habits  and  notes  of  tlir 
genus.  The  numbers  which  I  saw  in  the  Southern  States  tVom 
January  to  March  would  seem  to  indicate  a  migratory  liabii . 
but  whether  they  had  arrived  from  the  Northeast,  or  from  the 
great  forests  of  the  West,  coul<l  not  be  conjectured. 

The  Fc'fy,  as  I  may  call  this  bird  from  one  of  his  character- 
istic notes,  and  the  Carolina  Wren,  were  my  constant  and 
amusing  comixanions  din-ing  the  winter  as  I  passed  through  the 
dreary  solitudes  of  the  SoiUhern  States.  The  sprighlliiicss, 
caprice,  and  varied  musical  talent  of  this  species  are  (Viitc 
interesting,  and  more  peculiarly  so  when  nearly  all  the  ether 
vocal   tenants  of  the   forest  are  either  absent  or  silent,     b' 


TUFTED  TITMOLSK. 


143 


at 

all. 

.'V 

ari. 

of 

th. 

>  I'l 

Dili 

ha 

111    . 

)U1 

I  IK' 

ra( 

U'l- 

il 

anil 

nil 

the 

ill 

lev, 

( 

'.Mil'.- 

'     V 

h-  ir  in  the  midtllc  of  January,  when  at  K-ast  the  lealless  trees 
;inil  (lark  cloudy  skies  remind  us  of  the  coldest  season,  the 
lively.  ( heering,  varied  \)\\k-  of  this  active  and  hardy  bird,  is 
|,articularly  gratifying;  and  though  his  voice  on  jiaper  may  ap- 
jiiar  to  present  only  a  list  of  ([uaint  articulations,  yet  the  deli- 
cac  )■,  energy,  pathos,  and  variety  of  his  simple  song,  like  many 
oilier  things  in  Nature,  are  far  beyond  the  feeble  power  of 
(Km  ription  ;  and  if  in  these  rude  graphic  outlines  of  the  inim- 
iia!  le  music  of  birds  I  am  able  to  draw  a  caricature  sufti(  lent 
to  indic  ate  the  individual  performer,  I  shall  have  attained  all 
the  object  to  be  hojjcd  for  in  an  allempl  at  natural  delineation. 

The  notes  of  the  I'eto  generally  jiartake  of  the  high,  e(  ho- 
inu,  clear  tone  of  the  lialtimore  Uird.  Among  his  mtjre  extra- 
ordinary expressions  I  was  struck  with  the  call  of  'iK'hip-fom- 
kilh  killy,  and  now  and  then  'u'/i//  torn  hlly.  with  occasionally 
Millie  variation  in  the  tone  and  expresNion,  whi<  h  was  \ery 
lively  and  agreeable.  'I'he  middle  syllable  {t'oiii)  was  pro- 
nounced in  a  hollow  reverberating  tone.  In  a  few  minutes 
afur  the  subject  and  its  variations  were  finished,  m  the  isiiina- 
tion  of  the  musical  ])erformer,  he  suddenly  twisted  lumself 
roimd  the  branch  on  which  he  had  sat,  with  a  variety  of  odd 
and  fantastic  motions;  and  then,  in  a  lower,  hoar^icr,  harsh 
voire,  and  in  a  peevish  tone,  exa<  tly  like  that  (A  tlu-  Ja.  and 
tile  Chickadee,  went  (/ayi/ay-i/ay-ddw  and  t/iry-(/(i\-,/('n-,/in- 
i/d:f:  sometimes  this  loutl  note  changed  into  one  which  be 
came  low  and  querulous.  On  some  ot  these  occasions  he  al^o 
called  'ts/iica  ih'c-dcc.  The  jarring  call  would  then  change 
occasionally  into  kai-h't'-iiiJ  (/it/-i/i/-i/ii/.  'These  peevish  notes 
Would  often  be  uttered  in  anger  at  being  ap])roached  ;  ;;nil 
then  again  would  ])erhaps  be  answered  by  some  neighboring 
rival,  against  whom  they  appeared  levelled  in  taunt  and  ridi- 
cule, being  accompanied  by  extravagant  gestures. 

I.  Her  in  the  season,  in  {•"ebruarv,  when  in  the  lower  part  of 
Al  iliima  the  mild  influence  of  spring  began  already  to  be  felt, 
our  favorite,  as  he  gayly  pursued  the  busy  tribe  of  insect>,  now 
hb  principal  food,  called,  as  he  vaulted  restlessly  from  branch 
to  branch,  in  an  echoing  rapid  voice,  at  short  intervals,  />i-td- 


144 


SINClINd    niKDS. 


/>rfth/>t/o/'i  W.  I  his  tender  (all  of  ri<  o^nilioii  was  at  kii-ili 
ani\\\'rc'(l,  and  (:(jntintu'<l  at  inliTvals  lor  a  inimiti-  or  two  ;  ihcy 
thru  <  haiigffl  their  ijiiii  k  <  all  into  a  s\u\\\'r  /■</(>  />r/t>  />f/o  ;  iinl 
now  the  natural  note  passed  into  thr  |ilanuivc  kt'\,  soiinijiiii,' 
like  (///I  ii/i  i/z/t'-ii/i ,  then  in  the  same  breath  a  jarring  noti'  likt' 
that  of  the  Catbird,  and  in  part  like  the  sound  m.ide  by  pit- 
ting  the  lower  li])  to  the  upper  teeth,  and  calling  'A//'  (Ui/i,  7>//' 
ni/i.  After  thi^  the  call  of  /.•m  \- lurry- Lrrry-ktrry  stru(  k  \\\) 
with  an  echoing  sound,  heightened  by  the  hollow  bank  of  the 
river  whence  it  ])roceeded.  At  length,  more  ilelicatcly  than  it 
rn>il.  111  an  iiinler  tone,  you  hear  anew,  and  in  a  tender  nc  1 1  iit. 
pi/i>  />(■/<> />{/(i.  In  the  caprice  and  humor  of  our  perforiiKT, 
tied  by  no  rules  but  those  of  momentary  feeling,  the  e.xpre^Mun 
will  perhaps  change  into  a  >.V)\\  and  full /<v7-//v7-</-/(v7-(/-/'v/, 
then  a  \o\\  and  very  rapid  htr-kcr-ker-kcr-kcr-kcrry,  sometimes 
so  (juick  as  ahiiost  to  resenilile  the  rattle  of  a  watchman.  At 
another  time  his  morning  song  < nmmences  like  the  gentle 
whispers  of  an  aerial  spirit,  and  then  liecoming  high  and  <  Kar 
like  the  voice  of  the  nightingale,  he  cries  kici'a  kccva  kova 
kicva  ;  but  soon  filling  into  the  (luerulous,  the  (hty-(lay-iiay-Jt\- 
day-dail  oi  the  Chii  kadee  terminates  his  performance  Imita- 
tive, as  well  as  inventive.  I  have  heard  the  Peto  also  ^iiig 
something  like  the  lively  chatter  of  the  Swallow,  /(•fa-lcfa-UM- 
h'talit,  and  then  vary  into  pcto-petn-pcto-peio-pcto  extreiiuly 
(piick.  Unlike  the  warblers,  our  cheerful  Peto  has  no  trill,  or 
any  other  notes  than  these  simple,  i)layful,  or  pathetic  c.ills; 
yet  the  compass  of  voice  and  the  tone  in  which  they  are 
uttered,  their  cajjricious  variety  and  their  general  effect,  at  the 
season  of  the  year  when  they  are  heard,  are  quite  as  plea^in^' 
to  the  contemplative  observer  as  the  more  exquisite  notes  nf 
the  summer  songsters  of  the  verdant  forest. 

The  soimd  of  'u<hip-tom-kiih\  which  I  heard  this  bird  utter, 
on  the  17th  of  January,  1S30,  near  Parnwell,  in  South  Caruiiiia, 
is  very  remarkable,  and  leads  me  to  su])pose  that  the  species  is 
also  an  inhabitant  of  the  ^Vest  India  Islands,  where  Sloane 
attributes  this  note  to  the  Rcd-eved  Flycatcher ;  but  it  is  now 
known  to  be  the  note  of  a  tropical  species,  the  vireo  loiii:;iri's- 


TlFTKl)  TITMOL'SE. 


145 


///».  .iml  which  our  bird  had  probably  licard  and  mimicked  in  its 
(liit;ilU  <  ImiL'. 

Thf  IVti),  besides  inserts,  like  the  Jay,  to  which  he  is  allied, 
(hi'iii  up  acorns,  cracks  nuts  and  hard  and  shelly  seeds  to  yet 
at  tlieir  contents,  holding  them  meanwhile  in  his  feet.  He 
alMi  >(.Mrches  and  pecks  decayed  trees  and  their  bark  with  <on- 
siili  r.ible  energy  and  industry  in  ([uest  of  larv;e  ;  he  uften  also 
ciiiirs  into  hollow  trunks,  prying  after  the  same  objects.  In 
till  .(■  hoK's  they  conunonly  roost  in  winter,  and  o(  cupy  the 
sum  M(  ure  situations,  or  the  holes  of  the  small  W'oodpei  ker, 
f  ir  ili'positing  and  hatching  their  eggs,  which  takes  place  larly 
ill  April  or  in  May,  according  to  the  different  parts  of  the 
I  limn  they  happen  to  inhabit.  Sometimes  they  dig  out  a 
(.iMty  for  themselves  with  much  labor,  and  always  line  the 
hollow  with  a  variety  of  warm  materials.  Their  eggs,  about  six 
to  iiL,'!u,are  white  with  a  few  small  specks  of  brownish  red  near 
the  liriicr  end.  The  whole  family,  young  and  old,  may  be  seen 
hnntiiig  together  ihioughout  the  summer  and  winter,  and  keep- 
ing' up  a  continued  mutual  chatter. 

AKording  to  the  obser\-ations  of  Wilson  it  soon  becomes 
faiiiili;ir  in  confinement,  and  readily  makes  its  way  out  of  a 
wii  k(T  cage  by  repeated  blows  at  the  twigs.  It  may  be  fed 
on  liiin])-seed,  cherry-stones,  apijle-pijijiins,  and  hickory  nuts, 
litoktii  and  thrown  in  to  it.  In  its  natural  state,  like  the  rest 
of  it^  vicious  congeners,  it  sometimes  destroys  small  birds  by 
blow-,  on  the  skull. 

This  species  belongs  to  the  Carolinian  faiinal  area,  and  occurs 
rci^tilailv  only  from  alxnit  the  40th  parallel  southward;  north  of 
tluat  it  is  but  an  accidental  stratri^ler. 


Vol..    I.  —  10 


14^ 


SINGING   I5IKDS. 


CHICKADEE. 

PaRUS    A'lKlCAl'II.LUS. 

Char.  Above,  ashy  gray  ;  below,  grayish  white;  flanks  buffy;  cviun 
and  throat  black ;  cheek  while.     Length  4^*4  to  5;*4  inches. 

i\<.7.  in  a  cavity  made  in  a  decayed  stump,  entering  frtjni  the  ti>]i  (,r 
side ;  composed  of  wool  or  innfr  fur  of  small  mammals  firmly  aiul 
compactly  felted.  Sometimes  moss  and  hair  are  used,  aiKl  a  liniiv^  of 
feathers. 

.£;;i,'j'.     5-1S ;  while  speckled  with  1  eddish  brown,  060  X  0.50. 

This  familiar,  Iianly,  and  restless  little  bird  chiefly  inhabits 
the  Northern  and  Middle  States  as  well  as  Canada,  in  \vhi(  h  it 
is  even  resident  in  winter  around  Hudson's  l>ay,  and  has  been 
met  with  at  62°  on  the  northwest  coast.     In  all  the  Northern 
and  Middle  States,  during  autumn  and  winter,  families  of  these 
birds  are  seen  chattering  and  r(,\iiig  through  the  woods,  busily 
engaged  in  gleaning  their  multifarious  food,  along  with  Nut- 
hatches and  Creepers,  the  whole   forming  a  busy,  active,  and 
noisv  group,   whose   manners,    food,  and    habits    bring   them 
together   in  a  comn.on  pursuit.      Their  diet  varies  with  the 
season  ;  for  besides  insects,  their  larvai  and  eggs,  of  which  they 
are  more  particularly  fond,  in  the  month  of  September  they 
leave  the  woods  and  assemble  familiarly  in  our  orchards  and 
gardens,  and  even  enter  the  thronging  cities  in  quest  of  ih.it 
sup]iort  which  their  native   forests  now  deny  them.      1  ir^'o 
seeds  of  many  kinds,  particularly  those  which  are  oily,  as  the 
sunflower  and  pine  and  spruce  kernels,  are  now  sought  after. 
These  seeds,  in  the  usual  manner  of  the  genus,  are  sei/cd  in 
the  claws  and  held  against  the  branch  until  picked  ojien  by  the 
bill  to  obtain   their  contents.      Fat  of  various  kinds  is  also 
greedily  eaten,  and  they  regularly  watch  the  retreat  of  the  hog- 
killers  in  the  country,  to  glean  u]->  the  fragments  of  meat  whieh 
adhere  to  the  i)laces  where  the  carcases  have  been  suspciideii. 
At  times  they  (i^ed  upon  the  wax  of  the  candle-berry  myrtle 
{.^ryriia  cfrifcra)  ;  they  likewise  pick  up  crumbs  near  the  houses, 
and  search  the  weather-boards,  and   even   the   window-sills,   j 


Mov 


CHICKADEE. 


147 


ly    aiul 
\\\y'  of 


huh  it 
IS  hern 
(irllicrn 
.)f  these 
s.  busily 
ith  Nnt- 
:ive,  and 
ng    them 


fainirarly  for  their  lurking  prey,  and  arc  particularly  fond  of 
spid'  rs  and  the  eggs  of  destructive  moths,  especially  those  of 
the  canker-worm,  which  they  greedily  destroy  in  all  its  stages 
of  existence.  It  is  said  that  they  sometimes  attack  their  own 
si)icies  when  the  intlividual  is  sickly,  and  aim  their  blows  at 
the  skull  with  a  view  to  eat  the  brain  ;  but  this  barbarity  1  have 
iie\er  witnessed.  In  winter,  when  satisfied,  they  will  descend 
to  the  snow-bank  beneath  and  (piench  their  thirst  by  swallow- 
ing small  pieces  ;  in  this  way  their  various  and  frugal  meal  is 
ahvays  easily  supplied  ;  and  hardy,  and  warmly  clad  in  light 
and  very  downy  feathers,  they  suffer  little  inconvenience  from 
the  inclemency  of  the  seasons.  Indeed  in  the  winter,  or  about 
the  (lose  of  (Jctober,  they  at  times  appear  so  enlivened  as 
already  to  show  their  amorous  attachment,  like  our  domestic 
cock,  the  male  approaching  his  mate  with  fluttering  and  vibra- 
ting,' wings ;  and  in  the  spring  season,  the  males  have  obstinate 
engagements,  darting  after  each  other  with  great  velocity  and 
anger.  Their  roost  is  in  the  hollows  of  decayed  trees,  where 
they  also  breed,  making  a  soft  nest  of  moss,  haii,  and  feathers, 
anil  laying  from  six  to  twelve  eggs,  which  are  white,  with 
^|)e(  ks  of  l)rown-red.  They  begin  to  lay  about  the  middle  or 
(lose  of  April ;  and  though  they  commonly  make  use  of  natiu'al 
or  deserted  holes  of  the  \\'(jOil])ecker,  yet  at  times  they  are 
sail!  [{)  excavate  a  cavity  for  themselves  with  much  labor.  The 
first  l)ro(jd  take  wing  about  the  7th  or  loth  of  June,  and  they 
have  sometimes  a  second  towards  the  cm\  of  July.  The  young, 
as  soon  .as  fledged,  have  all  the  external  marks  of  the  adult,  — 
the  head  is  e(iually  black,  and  they  chatter  and  skip  about 
with  '1'  the  agility  and  self-j^ossession  of  their  parents,  who 
ap])Lar  nevertheless  very  solicitous  for  their  safety.  l''rom  this 
time  the  whole  fimiily  continue  to  associate  together  through 
the  autumn  and  winter.  They  seem  to  move  by  concert  from 
tree  to  tree,  keeping  up  a  continued  ' ti)u'-i1c-th'-(fr-di\  and  Ushc- 
dc-dt-dc-Jait^  preceded  by  a  shrill  whi-.tle.  all  the  while  busily 
engaged  picking  round  the  buds  and  branches  hanging  from 
their  extremities  and  proceeding  often  in  reversed  postures, 
head  downwards,  like   so  many  tumblers,   pr)'ing  into  every 


148 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


crevice  of  the  bark,  and  searching  around  the  roots  anrl  in 
every  possible  retreat  of  their  insect  prey  or  its  larvae.  If  the 
object  chance  to  fall,  they  industriously  descend  to  the  ffrouml 
and  glean  it  up  with  the  utmost  economy. 

On  seeing  a  cat  or  other  object  of  natural  antipathy,  \\\v 
Chickadee,  like  the  peevish  Jay,  scolds  in  a  loud,  angry,  and 
hoarse  note,  like  '/s/ic  tidii^h  ddi};h  (/dii^h.     Among  the  oiin  r 
notes  of  this  s])ecies  I   have  heard  a  call  like  /s/if-dr-Jay,  tslir- 
iii'-jit\\  the  two  first  syllables  being  a  slender  chirp,  with  the  jax 
strongly  pronounced.     Almost  the  only  note  of  this  bird  which 
may  be  called  a  song  is  one  which  is  frequently  heard  at  iut'-r- 
vals  in  the  depth  of  the  forest,  at  times  of  the  day  usually  when 
all  other  birds  are  silent,     ^^'e  then  may  sometimes  hear  in  the 
midst  of  this  solitude  two  feeble,  drawling,  clearly  whistled,  .ind 
rather   melancholy   notes,   like   'tc-dary,    and    sometimes  'iv- 
pcnit,  and   occasionally,   but   mu(  h    more   rarely,  in  the  same 
wiry,  whistling,  solemn  tone,  '/v/i/'c.     The  young,  in  winter,  also 
sometimes  drawl  out  these  contemplative  strains.     In  all  <  a^cs 
the  first  syllable  is  very  high  and  clear,  the  seccjnd  word  diojis 
low  and  ends  like  a  feeble  plaint,      this  is  nearly  all  the  ([u  nut 
song  ever  attempted  by  the  Chickadee,  and  is  |)erhaps  the  uvo 
notes  sounding  like   the  whetting  of  a  saw,  remarked  of  tlic 
Marsh  Titmouse  in  England  by   Mr.  White,-  in  his  "  Natural 
History  of  Selborne."     On  fine  days,  about  the  commencenunt 
of  October,  I  have  heard  the  Chickadee  sometimes  for  half  an 
hour  at  a  time  attempt  a  lively,  petulant  warble  very  ilifk  rent 
from  his  ordinary  notes.     On  these  occasions  he  appear--  to 
flit  about,  still  hunting  for  his  ]irey,  but  almost  in  an  ecsta-v  of 
delight  and  vigor.      lUit  after  a  while  the  usual  drawling  note 
again  occurs.     These  birds,  like  many  others,  are  verv  sulijtTt 
to  the  attacks  of  vermin,  and  they  accumulate  in  great  nunil)or.s 
around  that  part  of  the  head  and  front  which  is  least  accessible 
to  their  feet. 

The  European  bird,  so  very  similar  to  ours,  is  partial  to 
marshy  situations.  Ours  has  no  such  predilection,  nor  d'l  the 
American  ones,  that  I  can  learn,  ever  lay  up  or  hide  any  -'ore 
of  seeds  for  provision,  —  a  habit  reported  of  the  foreign  family. 


CHICKADEE. 


149 


Til  this  fact,  with  so  many  others.  \vc  have  an  adilitional  cvi- 
(h  IK  c  of  affinity  bt'twccn  the  'ritmousf  and  jay,  p  rtic.iilarly 
lii.il  shorl-l>illc(l  section  which  incliKks  the  i'nirruiiis  caiin- 
j.iisis  anil  G.  iiifaiistus,  Even  the  blue  color,  so  comnion 
\\;'h  the  latter,  is  possessed  by  several  species  i)f  this  genus. 
Ill' lied,  from  their  aggregate  relation  and  omnivorous  habit 
wt  ^ee  no  better  place  of  arrangement  for  these  birds  than 
hill  I  inctly  after  the  (larruii,  or  Jays. 

following  the  authority  of  Temminck  and  Montagu,  I  con- 
si' lered  this  bird  the  same  as  the  luirojiean  Marsh  Titmouse. 
I  i;  i\e  since  sen  the  bird  of  Europe  in  its  native  countty.  and 
hive  good  reason  to  believe  it  wholly  different  from  our  lively 
ami  fmiiliar  Chickadee.  L'nlike  our  bird,  it  is  rather  shy,  seldom 
siiu  but  in  ])airs  or  solitary,  never  in  domestic  premises,  usu- 
;illy  and  almost  constantly  near  streams  or  watercourses,  on 
till'  willows,  alders,  or  other  small  trees  im]ieniling  over 
>iri:iins,  and  utters  now  and  then  a  feeble  complaining  or 
(|iu  nilous  call,  and  rarely  if  ever  the  chicka  dvc-dcc.  It  also 
111  kcs  a  noise  in  the  spring,  as  it  is  said,  like  the  whetting  of  a 
M\v,  which  ours  never  does.  The  Chickadee  is  seldom  seen 
luir  waters;  often,  even  in  summer,  in  dry,  shady,  and  se- 
iliuli'd  woods;  but  when  the  weather  becomes  cold,  and  as 
early  as  October,  roving  families,  pressed  by  necessity  and  the 
fiilure  of  their  ordinary  insect  fare,  now  begin  to  fre(iaent 
iinhirds  and  gardens,  appearing  extremely  familiar,  himgry, 
iiiiliLr'Ht.  but  industrious,  prying  with  restless  anxiety  into  every 
craiinv  of  the  bark  or  holes  in  decayed  trees  after  dormant  in- 
sc(  ts.  -piders,  and  larvne,  descending  with  the  strictest  economv 
til  the  ground  in  (piest  of  every  stray  morsel  of  provision  which 
tiappens  to  fall  from  their  gras]).  Their  ipiaint  notes  and  jing- 
ling warble  are  heard  even  in  winter  on  fine  days  when  the 
wiMtlier  relaxes  in  its  severity  ;  and.  in  short,  instead  of  being 
the  river  hermit  of  its  l-Airopean  analogue,  it  adds  by  its 
presence,  indomitable  action  and  chatter,  an  air  of  cheerful- 
ness to  the  silent  and  dreary  winters  of  the  coldest  parts  of 
America. 


I^O 


SINCilNG   BIRDS. 


CAROIJNA   CHICKADEE. 

PaRUS   CAROLINKNSIS. 

Char.  Above,  ashy  gray  tinged  with  dull  brown ;  head  and  throat 
blaci< ;  cheek  white;  beneath,  brownish  white;  lianks  buttisli.  l,eiij;Ui 
4J4  to  4'^^  inches. 

.\r.iA  In  a  cavity  of  decayed  stunij),  comi)osed  of  grass  vr  slued-  of 
bark,  and  lined  with  feathers.  Sometimes  composed  entirely  of  fui  ..r 
fine  wool  felted  comi)actly. 

£i,';i;s.     5-8;  white  often  spotted  with  reddish  brown  ;  0.60  X  0.50. 

This  species,  detected  by  Mr.  Aiidub<'^  is  a  constant  iiilub- 
itant  of  the  Southern  and  NLiddle  States  from  the  bonk  i>  ut 
New  Jersey  to  Mast  Florida.  It  has  a  predilection  for  the 
borders  of  ponds,  marshes,  and  swamps,  and  less  gregirious 
than  the  preceding,  seldom  mo*-e  than  a  pair  or  family  are 
seen  together.  It  is  also  shy  and  retiring  ;  inhabiting  at  all 
times  a  mild  and  genial  clime,  it  never  seeks  out  donicMic 
premises,  nor  even  the  waysides,  but,  like  the  European  Mar-h 
Titmouse,  it  remains  throughout  the  year  in  the  tangled  wo.  ids 
and  swamps  which  gave  it  birth.  In  the  wilds  of  Oregon  l,,tc 
in  autimin  we  fref|uently  saw  small  roving  restless  flocks  of 
these  birds  associated  often  with  the  Chestnut- 1  Jacked  sjK'cies. 
At  such  times  both  parties  were  f[uenilous  and  noisy  ;  but  the 
/s/if  ti'  (/('  (/('  is  comparatively  feeble,  uttered  in  a  slender,  wiry 
tone.  At  such  times  intently  gleaning  for  insects,  they  show  \  rry 
little  fear,  but  a  good  deal  of  sympathy  for  their  woimdcd  com- 
panions, remaining  rotmd  them  and  scolding  in  a  petulant  and 
plaintive  tone.  At  the  approacdi  of  winter  those  in  the  Atlan- 
tic region  retire  farther  to  the  south,  and  on  the  Pacific  border 
they  are  to  be  seen  in  winter  in  the  woods  of  Upper  California : 
but  in  no  instance  did  we  see  them  approach  the  vicinity  of 
the  trading  posts  or  the  gardens. 

A  nest  of  this  species  discovered  by  Dr.  Bachman  was  in  a 

hollow  stump  about  four  feet  from  the  ground  ;  it  was  rather 

shallow,  composed  of  fine  wool,  cotton,  and  some  fibns  of 

lants,  the  whole  fitted  together  so  as  to  be  of  an  unifjrin 

thickness  throughout,  and  contained  pure  white  eggs. 


IIUDSUNIAN   CHICKADEE. 


lil 


HUDSONIAN   CHICKADEE. 
Pauls  hudsonicus. 

(  iiAR.  Above,  pale  dull  brown,  darker  on  crown;  cheeks  white; 
Ij'.i'iu,  grayish  while;  Hanks  rusty;  liuuat  brownish  blaik.  length 
5  to  5'4- 

.\',  7.  In  an  excavation  in  a  decayed  stump,  usually  entering  from  the 
top.  On  the  bottom  of  the  cavity  is  placed  a  plattorm  'if  dried  ni'<>-,  and 
oil  this  another  of  felted  fur,  and  upon  this  latter  is  set  the  giaeclul  pouch- 
shaped  nest  of  firm  felt,  made  of  the  inner  fur  of  small  mannnaN. 

/.,;Vf'  6-ro  ;  creamy  white  with  brown  spots  in  a  circle  around  ihc 
lars;tr  end ;  0.5S  X  0.56. 

This  more  than  usually  hardy  s})ecics  continues  the  whole 
year  about  Severn  River,  braving  the  inclemency  of  the  winters, 
ami  frequents  the  juniper-bushes  on  the  buds  of  \vhi<  h  it  feeds. 
\n  winter,  like  the  common  species,  it  is  seen  roving  alniut 
ill  small  tlocks,  busily  foraging  from  tree  to  tn/e.  It  is  sai(l  to 
lay  five  eggs.  Mr.  .Audubon  met  with  it  on  the  C(ust  of  I^ib- 
rador,  where  it  was  breeding,  about  the  middle  of  Julv.  He 
tksi  ribes  the  nest  as  being  i)laced  at  the  height  of  not  more 
than  three  feet  from  the  ground,  in  the  hollow  of  a  d<  r.iyt-d 
low  stump  scarcely  thicker  than  a  man's  leg,  the  whole  so 
rotten  that  it  crumbled  to  pieces  on  being  touched.  It  was 
sli,iii(.'il  like  a  purse,  eight  inches  in  depth,  two  in  diameter  in- 
siiK'.  its  sides  about  a  half  an  inch  thick.  It  was  comitoscd  of 
the  finest  fur  of  different  quadrupeds,  so  thickly  matted  through- 
out that  it  looked  as  if  it  had  been  felted  by  the  hand  of  man, 
( Ml  the  nest  being  assailed,  the  male  flew  at  the  intruder,  utter- 
iii:,'  m  angry  te-tc-tc-tcc. 

The  Hudson  Hay  Chickadee  is  fairly  common  in  the  Maritime 
I'lovinres,  liiough  more  abundant  in  winter  than  in  summer.  It 
Iia^  lui  n  found  breeding,  also,  in  the  northern  parts  of  .Maine,  New 
Hampshire,  New  York,  and  Micliigan,  and  in  the  Muskoka  districts 
ot  Ontario.  Mr.  Walter  Faxon  considers  it  a  rare  tiiou^h  n-milar 
niiL;rant  to  the  eastern  part  of  Massachusetts,  but  thinks  it  occur.** 
ill  iiiiiiihers  in  winter  amid  the  Herkshire  hills. 

One  example  has  been  taken  in  Connecticut,  and  one  in  Rhode 
Isl.r.J. 


M2 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


BOHEMIAN   WAXWING. 

A-MPliUS   GARRULUS. 

Cn\R.  Prevailing  color  cinnamon  brown  or  fawn  color,  darkt  r  on 
front  licad  and  checks,  changing  to  ashy  on  riniip;  ciun  and  line  ,u  rn>s 
fcjrL-iRad  and  through  the  eyes,  rich  black;  wings  and  tail  slat\  ;  tail 
tiijpcd  with  ycUosv  ;  primaries  tipped  with  white,  secondaries  with  a|  I'cn 
dagcs  like  red  sealing-wax.  Head  with  long  jiointcd  crest.  I.engili  7H 
to.S;4  inches.  I'iasily  distinguished  from  the  Cedar  ISird  by  its  larger  si/c 
and  darker  color. 

,\V>A  In  a  tree,  a  bulky  structure  of  twigs  and  roots,  lined  with 
feathers. 

■^.&''     3~S>  Wuish  white  spotted  with  lilac  and  brown  ;  100  X  0.70. 

The  Waxwing,  of  which  stragglers  are  occasionally  soin  in 
Nova  Scotia,  jSIassachiisetts,  Long  Island,  and  the  vicinitv  of 
Philadeljjhia,  first  observed  in  America  in  the  vicinity  ol'  the 
Athabasca  River,  near  the  region  of  the  Rocky  Mountain--,  in 
the  month  of  March,  is  of  common  occurrence  as  a  passmmr 
throughout  the  colder  regions  of  the  whole  northern  hiini- 
sphere.  Like  our  (ledar  Birds,  they  associate  in  ntmunnis 
flocks,  pairing  only  for  the  breeding  season  ;  after  whi(  h  the 
young  and  old  give  way  to  their  gregarious  habits,  and  collec- 
ting in  numerous  companies,  they  perform  extensive  joiniuvs, 
and  are  extremely  remarkable  for  their  great  and  irreL,Mil.ir 
wanderings.  The  circumstances  of  incubation  in  this  spii  ics 
are  wholly  unknown.  It  is  supposed  that  they  retire  {o  the 
remote  regions  to  breed  ;  yet  in  Norway  they  are  only  binl^  of 
passage,  and  it  has  been  conjectured  that  they  pass  the  suni- 
mer  in  the  elevated  table-land  of  C'entral  Asia.  Wherever  tiuv 
dwell  at  this  season,  it  is  certain  that  in  spring  and  late  atiiuiim 
they  visit  northern  Asia  or  Siberia  and  eastern  Europe  in  v,i>t 
nimibers,  but  are  elsewhere  only  uncertain  stragglers,  whose  ;ij»- 
])earance,  at  different  times,  has  been  looked  upon  as  ominuus 
of  some  disaster  by  the  credulous  and  ignorant. 

The  Waxen  Chatterers,  like  our  common  Cedar  Birds,  a])- 
pear  destitute  of  song,  and  only  lisp  to  each  other  their  usual 
low,  reiterated  call  of  ze  ze  re,  which  becomes  more  audible 


! 


liOIlKMIAX   WAXWINd. 


^53 


with 


wlun  they  are  disturbctl  and  as  they  take  to  \vinL,^  '!  luy  are 
alMi  very  sociable  anil  aflectujnate  to  their  whole  fraternity, 
and  ■'it  in  rows  often  on  the  same  branch,  when  not  eniployetl 
in  I  illn  ling  their  food,  which  is  sai<l  to  consist  of  juicy  fruits 
.if\arious  kinds,  ])articularly  grapes;  they  will  also  eat  juniper 
and  laurel  berries,  as  well  as  apples,  currants,  and  figs,  and  are 
oUi  II  seen  to  drink. 

|)r.  Richardson  informs  us  that  this  bird  appears  in  llocks  at 
(Irrat  l>ear  Lake  about  the  24th  of  May,  when  they  feed  on 
t!u'  berries  of  the  alpine  arbutus,  marsh  vacciniuin,  and  otlur 
kinds  exposed  again  to  the  surface  after  the  spring  thaw. 
AiiMthtT  tlock  of  three  or  four  hundred  individuals  was  seen  on 
tlu'  hanks  of  the  Saskatchewan,  at  CaHt(Mi  Mouse,  early  in  the 
same  month.  In  their  usual  manner  they  all  settled  together 
on  one  or  two  trees,  and  remained  together  about  tiie  same 
plai  L'  for  an  hour  in  the  morning,  making  a  loud  twittering 
noi^e,  and  were  too  shy  to  be  approached  within  gunshot. 
Tin  ir  stay  at  most  did  not  exceed  a  few  days,  and  none  of  the 
Indians  knew  of  their  nests;  though  the  doctor  had  reason  to 
b(.ln\e  that  they  retired  in  the  breeding  season  to  the  broken 
and  desolate  mountaindimestone  districts  in  the  67th  or  6.Sth 
]>iralkls,  where  they  find  means  to  feed  on  the  fruit  of  the 
connnon  juniper,  so  abundant  in  that  (juarter.  Neitlier  Mr. 
Town^end  nor  myself  observed  this  bird  either  in  the  Columbia 
Rivir  district  or  on  the  Rocky  Mountains. 


Tlu'  Bohemian  is  still  a  rover  of  uncertain  and  irregular  habits. 
ocra.^ionally  in  winter  appearing  along  tiie  nortliern  hnifler  of  the 
L'iiitcd  States  and  through  the  settled  portions  of  Canada  in  large 
tiocks,  Init  sometimes  absent  for  several  seasons.  Colonel  (loss 
fouiKl  a  nest  in  Labrador,  and  several  luue  been  taken  in  tlie 
Northwest. 


154 


SINGING   IJIKDS. 


CEDAR   WAXWIXG. 

CEDAK    blKD.    CllIiKKY    BIRD. 
A.Ml'KLIS   CEURORUM. 

Char.  Prevailing  color  cinnamon  br(nvn  or  fawn  color,  changing  to 
ashv  nil  rump  ;  chin  and  line  across  forchcail  aiul  through  eyes,  rich  M.ick, 
wings  and  tail  slaty;  tail  tipped  with  yellow;  secondaries  sonietinio  with 
red,  wax-like  appendages.  Head  with  long,  pointed  crest.  Length  oj^ 
to  7/i  inches. 

A'ls/.  In  a  tree ,  large  and  loosely  made  of  twigs  and  grass,  lined  with 
grass,  hair,  or  feathers. 

ACi'-f-    3-5  ;  bluish  white  spotted  with  lilac  and  brown  ;  0.S5  X  0.60. 

This  common  native  wanderer,  which  in  simimer  extends  its 
migrations  to  the  remotest  unpeopled  regions  of  Canada,  is 
also  found  throughout  the  American  continent  to  Me.xico,  and 
parties  even  roam  to  the  tropical  forests  of  Cayenne.  In  all  this 
extensive  geographical  range,  where  great  elevation  or  latitude 
tempers  the  climate  so  as  to  be  favorable  to  the  produ(  lion 
of  juicy  fruits,  the  Cedar  iJird  will  probably  be  found  either 
almost  wholly  to  reside,  or  to  pass  the  season  of  rejirodiK  tion. 
Like  its  European  representative  (the  Waxen  Chatterer),  it  is 
callable  of  braving  a  considerable  degree  of  cold  ;  for  in  I  Vim 
sylvania  and  New  Jersey  some  of  these  birds  are  seen  thronji- 
out  the  winter,  where,  as  well  as  in  the  early  part  of  the 
summer  and  fall,  they  are  killed  and  brought  to  market,  gen- 
erally fat,  and  much  esteemed  as  food.  Silky  softness  of 
jilumage,  gentleness  of  dis|)osition,  innocence  of  character, 
extreme  sociability,  and  an  innate,  inextinguishable  love  of 
freedom,  accompanied  by  a  constant  desire  of  wandcrini:.  are 
characteristic  traits  in  the  physical  and  moral  ix)rtrait  of  the 
second  as  well  as  the  i)receding  species  of  this  peculiar  and 
extraordinary  genus. 

Leaving  the  northern  part  of  the  continent,  situated  beyond 
the  40th  degree,  at  the  approach  of  winter,  they  assinible 
in  companies  of  twenty  to  a  hundred,  and  wander  through  the 
Southern  States  and  Mexico  to  the  confines  of  the  equator,  in 


CEDAR  WAXWING. 


J55 


all  of  which  countries  they  are  now  either  common  or  abun- 
(l.iiu.    As  t)bserved  by  Audubon,  their  llight  is  easy,  continued, 
aii'i  otiiu  piTlurmed  at  a  considerable  height;  and  they  move 
in  il'K  ks  or  (  ompanies,  making  several  turns  before  they  alight. 
A>  the  miklness  of  spring  returns,  and  with  it  their  favorite 
tuDil,  they  reappear  in  the  Northern  and  Eastern  States  about 
tlie  beginning  of  April,  before   the  ripening  of  their  favorite 
fnuts.  the  cherries  and  mulberries.     JUit  at  this  seascm,  to  re- 
pa}  the  gardener  for  the  tithe  of  his  crop,  their  natural  due, 
tiny  tail  not  to  assist  in  ridding  his  trees  of  more  deadly  ene- 
nuis  which  infest  them,  and  the  small  cateri)illars,  beetles,  and 
various  insects  now  constitute  their  only  food  ;  and  for  hoxns 
at  a  time  they  may  be  seen  feeding  on  the  all-despoiling  canker- 
worius  which   infest  our  api)le-trees  and  elms.     On  these  oc- 
casions, silent  and   sedate,   after  ])lentifully  feeding,  they  sit 
(In  sMiig  their  feathers  in  near  contact  on  the  same  branch  to 
the  number  of  5  or  6  ;  and  as  the  season  of  selective  attach- 
nu'Ut  ajjproaches,  they  may  be  observed  pluming  each  other, 
r.nd  (  aressmg  with  the  most  gentle  fondness,  —  a  ])laytulness  in 
which,  however,  they  are   even   surpassed  by  the  contemned 
Ravtii,  to  which  social  and  friendly  family  our  Cedar   bird, 
ihttVnnt  as  he  looks,  has  many  traits  of  alliance.     But  these 
(Kln(lIl^trations  of  attachment,  which  in  a  more  vigorous  kind 
would  kindle  the  feud  of  jealousy,  a])i)arently  produce  in  this 
hinl  scarcely  any  diminution  of  the  general  social  tie  ;  and  as 
they  ire  gregarious  to  so  late  a  i)eriod  of  the  inviting  season  of 
in(  uhation,  this  affection  has  been  supjjosed  to  be  independent 
(it  sexual  distinction.     This  friendly  trait  is  carried  so  far  that 
an  eye-witness  assures  me  he  has  seen  one  among  a  row  of 
the>e  birds  seated  upon  a  branch  dart  r.fter  an  insect,  and  offer 
it  to  his  associate  when  caught,  who  very  disiiUi'restedly  ])asseil 
It  to  the  next,  and  each  delicately  declining  the  offer,  tlu'  morsel 
has  proceeded  backwards  and  forwards  before  it  was  appro- 
priated.    Whatever  may  hv  the  fact,  as  it  regards  this  peculiar 
sorial)ility.  it  frequently  facilitates  the  means  of  their  destruc- 
tion with  the  thoughtless  and  rapacious  sportsman,  who,  be- 
cause many  of  these  unfortunate  birds  can  be  killed  in  an 


156 


SINCllNCi   UIKDS. 


instant,  siilinj,'  in  tlic  same  niiiLii',  thinks  the  exercise  of  the  ^\n\ 
m\\s{  be  credili'd  only  l)y  the  havoc  which  it  produces  against 
a  friendly,  useful,  and  innocent  visitor. 

Towards  the  close  of  May  or  bej^nnning  tif  June  the  (In  irv 
l)irds.  now  paired,  commence  tunning  the  ( radle  of  their  ynim:,'; 
yet  still  so  sociable  are  they  that  several  ni-sts  may  be  obserwd 
in  the  same  vicinity.     The  materials  and  trees  chosen  for  tlnii 
labors  are  various,  as  well  as  the  tfenera!  markinj,'s  of  their  t  l;l;v 
'i"wo  nests,  in  the  I'xjtanic  (larden  at  Cambridge,  were  fonmd 
in  small  hemlock-trees,  at  the  distance  of  i6  or    iS   feet   11.1111 
the  grotmd,  in  the  forks  of  the  main  br  inches.     One  of  tlioc 
was  composed  of  dry,  ccjarse  grass,  interwoxen   roughly  with  a 
con^iidi'rable   (piantity   of  dead    hemlock    sprigs,    furtlur   n>u- 
nected  by  a  small  (iu;nitity  of  silk-wee<l  lint,  and  lint'd  with 
a  few  strips  of  thin  grape-vine  bark,  and   dry  leaves  of  tlio 
silver  fir.     In  the  second  nest  the  lining  was  merely  fine  lo.it- 
■fibres.     On  the  4th  of  June  this  nest  contained  2  eggs,  —  thr 
whole  numl)ei-  is  generally  about  4  or  5  ;  these  are  of  the  u^u,^l 
form  (not  remarkable  tor  any  dispro|)ortion  of  the  two  ends),  of 
a  ])ale  clay  white,  inclining  to  olive,  with  a  few  well-defiiuil 
black  or  deep  miil)i'r  spots  at  the  great  end,  and  with  otiur- 
seen,  as  it  were,  beneath  the  surface  of  the  shell.     Twm  or 
three  other  nests  were  made  in  the  apple-trees  of  an  adjoiniiii: 
orchard,  one  in  a  ])lace  of  difficult  access,  the  other  on  a  di- 
pending   branch    easily   reached    by  the   hand.     These  wore 
securely  fixed  hori/ontally  among  the  ascending  twigs,  am!  were 
formed  externally  of  a  mass  of  dry.  wiry  weeds,  the  m;it^ri:iN 
being   firmly  held   together  by  a   large   quantity  of  cuiUvcid 
down,  in  some  places  softened  with  glutinous  saliva  so  as  In 
be  formed  into  coarse,  connecting  shreds.     The  round  educ  o\ 
the  nest  was  made  of  coils  of  the  wiry  stolons  of  a  conimon 
Cinquefoil  then  lined  with  exceedingly  fine  root-fibres ;  over 
the  whole,  to  give  elasticity,  were  laid  fine  stalks  of  a  slemkr 
juiicus,  or  minute  rush.     In  these  nests  the  eggs  were,  as  de- 
scribed by  Wilson  (except  as  to  form),  marked  with  sm  illcr 
and  more  numerous  spots  than  the  preceding.     From  the  late- 
ness of  the  autumn,  at  which  period  incubation  is  still  going 


CEDAR   WAXWINCJ. 


'57 


on.  it  would  appear  that  this  species  is  very  prolific,  and  must 
h.i\f  at  least  two  hatches  in  the  season  ;  for  as  l.iti'  as  the  jih 
(if  >•  pteniher  a  brood,  in  tills  vicinity,  were  yet  in  the  nest. 
riic  ]K'riod  of  silting'  is  about  15  or  16  days;  and  wiiiie  tiie 
vuiiiii,'  are  still  hel|)less,  it  is  surprisiuLC  to  witness  the  silence  of 
the  ]Mrents,  utterintf  no  cries,  nor  uiakinL;  any  approaches  to 
tliiiM'  who  may  cndanj,'er  or  jeopard  the  safi-ty  of  their  brood  ; 
>lill.  ihey  are  llyiiiL,'  round,  and  silently  watching  the  dreaded 
rcsuh,  and  approach  the  nest  the  moment  the  intruder  disap- 
pciiN.  They  feed  the  young,  at  fu'st,  with  insects  and  smooth 
( .itiipillars  ;  but  at  thi'  vm\  of  tlu'  _^d  or  4th  day  the\'  are  t"ed, 
\\lv  the  old  ones,  almost  e\clusi\i'ly  on  sweet  and  juicy  fruits, 
>U(  h  as  whortle  and  service  berries,  wil<l  and  cultivated  cher- 
ri<  ^.  etc.  A  young  bird  from  one  of  the  nests  described,  in  the 
hcm'hxk.  was  thrown  upon  my  protection,  having  been  by 
souu-  means  ejected  from  his  cradle.  In  this  critical  situation, 
however,  he  had  been  well  fcil,  or  rather  gorged,  with  berries, 
aiii]  was  merely  scratched  by  the  fdl  he  had  rc(  eix'cd.  l'"ed  on 
( herries  and  mulberries,  he  was  soon  well  lledgeil.  while  his 
ni:ite  in  the  nest  was  suffered  to  jierish  1)y  the  forgetfulness  of 
hi--  11  aural  protectors.  Coeval  with  thi'  growth  of  Ids  wing- 
feahers  were  already  seen  the  remarkable  red  waxen  append- 
;iu'(  -.  showing  that  their  ai)iu'arance  indicates  no  particular  <7i;r 
iir  w  \  ,•  many  birds,  in  fact,  ])eing  without  these  ornaments 
liming  their  whole  lives.  I  soon  fotm  1  my  interesting  protr^^c 
iinpatient  of  die  cage  and  extremely  voracious,  gorging  him- 
self to  the  very  mouth  with  the  soft  fruits  on  which  he  was 
"t'ten  fed.  The  throat,  in  fact,  like  a  craw,  admits  of  distention, 
.11(1  ihc  contents  are  only  gradually  i)assed  off  into  the  stomach. 
I  iiMW  suffered  the  bird  to  lly  at  large,  ami  for  several  days  he 
ik-M  ended  from  the  trees,  in  which  he  ]->erched,  to  my  arm  for 
toiid  :  hut  the  moment  he  wis  satisfied,  he  avoided  the  cage, 
;tnd  appeared  unable  to  survive  the  loss  of  liberty.  He  now 
laine  seldomer  to  me,  and  finally  joined  the  lisi)ing  muster-c-ry 
"f  /:'•  he  he,  and  was  enticed  away  by  more  attractive  associates. 
When  young,  nature  provided  him  with  a  loud,  impatient  voice, 
and  /<■-,//(/,  te-iiiii,  kai-tiurid  (often  also  the  clamorous  cry  of 


I5S 


si\f;iN(;  lUKOs. 


tin-  younj;  I'.altimorc),  was  his  (li'afcning  and  almost  inrcssint 
call  for  food.  AiiotlitT  yoiinj,'  bird  of  the  first  brood,  i)r()liiIiK- 
ncglc(:tc<l,  (TJt'd  so  Itdnl  and  plaintively  to  a  male  I»aliiiii.)rc 
iJird  in  the  same  tree  that  he  eommenced  feeding  it.  Mr. 
U'inshi|),  of  l»rij,'hton,  informs  me  that  one  of  the  young  ('cijar 
i>irds.  who  fre(|iiented  the  front  of  his  house  in  (|uest  of  hoiiiv 
sii<  kle  berries,  at  length,  on  receiving  food  (])robably  alM) 
abandoned  by  his  roving  parents),  threw  himself  wholly  on  hi> 
protection.  At  large  day  and  night,  he  still  ngiilarly  atttiidcd 
the  dessert  of  the  dimier-tabU-  for  his  portion  of  fruit,  au'l  n 
maineil  steadfast  in  his  attachment  to  Mr.  W.  till  killed  \>\  >u 
accident,  being  unfortunately  trodden  under  foot. 

Though  harmless,  exci'edingly  gentle  and  artKss,  they  tn.ikc 
some  show  of  dcfince  when  attac  ked  ;    as  a  second  bird  ulm  h 
I  brought  up,  destitute  of  the   red  appentlages  on  the  \mii_-. 
when  threatened  elevated  his  crest,  looked  angry,  and  repi  a 
cdly  snapped  with  his  bill. 

Almost  all  kinds  of  sweet  berries  are  sotight  for  food  b\  tin- 
American  Waxen-wing.  In  search  of  whortle-berries,  tJKV 
retire  in  Pennsylvania  to  the  western  motmtain-chains  of  thu 
Alleghany  raiige  ;  and  in  autunui.  until  the  a])proach  of  wiiitrr. 
they  are  e(|ually  attached  to  tlie  berries  of  the  \'irginia  jiuiiprr. 
as  well  as  those  of  the  sour-gum  tree  ami  the  wax-uiutlt 
They  also  feed  late  in  the  season  on  rii)e  persimmons,  >-iii  ill 
winter-grapes,  bird-cherries,  the  fruit  of  the  pride  of  Chin... 
and  (jther  fruits.  The  kernels  and  seeds  of  these,  uninjured  In 
the  action  of  the  stomac  h,  ate  strewed  about,  and  thus  aci  i- 
dentally  plantt-d  in  abundance  whi'rever  these  birds  frecjucin. 
Like  their  ])rototype,  tlie  ]ireceding  species,  the  migration-, 
and  time  and  place  of  breeding,  are  iniluenced  by  their  siijijil} 
of  food.  In  the  spring  of  iSji  they  arrived  in  this  viciniiy  a- 
usual ;  but  in  consefpience  of  the  failure  of  cherries,  scarcely 
any  were  bred,  and  very  few  were  either  to  be  heard  or  seen 
in  the  vicinity.  In  parts  of  New  England  this  bird  is  known 
by  the  name  of  the  Canada  Robin  ;  and  by  the  French  Cana- 
dians it  is  fancifully  called  Rccollct,  from  the  color  of  its  crest 
resembling  that  of  the  hood  of  this  religious  order. 


nnrtl' 


NORTHERN    SIIRIKL:. 

BUTCHER   BIRD. 
I, AMIS    li()Kl;.M.lS. 

Cll  \K.  Ahovi',  l)liii>li  asli,  paler  on  nunp  ;  uikKt  parts  dull  wliilu,  with 
fint  \\.i\  y  liiiL>  of  l)ro\viii>h  i^rav  ;  h.ir  on  side  ol  head  Mack  ;  \vin,i;>  and 
tail  bl.u  k  tipjud  \\i:h  whilu;  while  patch  on  wiiii;;  outer  tail  I'catlui^ 
tthiic.     l.ciij;lii  9 '4  to  I0;V  inches. 

.\c  !.  in  a  tree  or  low  Ijusli  ;  large  and  roughly  made  of  sticks  and 
gra^s  lin.d  with  leaves  or  feathc-s. 

E.:  4-6;  dull  gray  with  green  tint,  spotted  with  lilac  and  brown  ; 
1.05  /  0.75. 

This  little  wary  Northern  hunter  is  most  r.ommonly  seen  in 
this  part  of  the  continent  at  the  conimenrement  of  winter,  ;i 
few  remaining  with  us  throtighout  that  season.  They  exte'nd 
their  wanderings,  according  to  .Xuduhon.  as  fir  as  Natcluv. 
and  are  not  uncommon  in  Kentucky  in  severe  winters.  In 
March  they  retire  to  the  North,  though  some  take  up  thrir 
Miinincr  abode  in  the  thickest  forests  in  Pennsylvania  and  New 
i'.iii;!  iiul.  The  nest  is  said  to  be  large  and  cotn])act,  in  the 
'"rk  of  a  small  tree,  and  sometimes  in  an  apple-tree,  comiiosed 
ixtcmally  of  dried  grass,  with  whitish  moss,  and  well  lined  with 
f'-'athers.     The  eggs  are  about  6,   of  a  pale  cinereous  white, 


i6o 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


thickly  marked  at  tiic  greater  end  with  spots  and  streaks  of 
rufous.  Tile  period  of  sitting  is  about  15  days.  The  young 
appear  early  in  June  or  the  latter  end  of  May. 

'I'he  principal  food  of  this  species  is  large  insects,  sue  h  as 
grasshoj)pers,  crickets,  and  spiders.  With  the  surplus  of  the 
former,  as  well  as  small  birds,  he  disposes  in  a  very  singular 
manner,  by  impaling  them  upon  thorns,  as  if  thus  providing 
securely  for  a  future  supply  of  provision.  In  the  abundance, 
however,  which  surrounds  him  in  the  ample  store-housr  of 
Nature,  he  soon  loses  sight  of  this  needless  and  sportive  econ- 
omy, and,  like  the  thievish  Pie  and  Jay,  he  suffers  his  forgotten 
store  to  remain  drying  and  bleaching  in  the  elements  till  no 
linger  palatable  or  digestible.  As  this  little  15utcher,  like  his 
more  common  lluropean  representative,  preys  upon  birds, 
these  imijaled  grasshoppers  were  imagined  to  be  lures  to  attract 
his  victims ;  but  his  courage  and  rapacity  render  such  snares 
both  useless  and  improbable,  as  he  has  been  known,  with  the 
temerity  of  a  Falcon,  to  follow  a  bird  into  an  open  cage  scjoncr 
than  lose  his  quarry.  Mr,  J.  IJrown,  of  Cambridge,  informs  nie 
that  one  of  these  birds  had  the  boldness  to  attack  two  Canaries 
in  a  cage,  suspendetl  one  fine  winter's  day  at  the  window.  The 
poor  songsters  in  their  fears  fluttered  to  the  side  of  the  cage, 
and  one  of  them  thrust  his  head  through  the  bars  of  his  prison ; 
at  this  instant  the  wily  Butcher  tore  off  his  head,  and  left  the 
body  dead  in  the  cage.  The  cause  of  the  accident  seemed 
wholly  mysterious,  till  on  the  following  day  the  bold  hiuiter 
was  found  to  have  entered  the  room,  through  the  open  window, 
with  a  view  to  despatch  the  remaining  victim  ;  and  but  for 
timely  interference  it  would  have  instantly  shared  the  fue  of 
its  companion.  On  another  occasion,  while  a  Mr.  Lock  in  this 
vicinity  was  engaged  in  fowling,  he  wounded  a  Robin,  who 
flew  to  a  little  distance  aiil  descended  to  the  ground  ;  he  -oon 
heard  the  disabled  bird  uttering  unusual  cries,  and  on  approach- 
ing found  him  in  the  grasp  of  the  Shrike.  He  snatched  u]i  the 
bird  from  its  devourcr :  but  having  tasted  blood,  it  still  fol- 
lowed, as  it  determined  not  to  relinquish  its  proposed  prey, 
and  only  desisted  from  the  quest  on  receiving  a  mortal  wound. 


NORTHERN    SHRIKE. 


I6l 


TIh'  propensity  for  thus  singularly  sc'(niring  its  prey  is  also 
pi\!(  tiseil  on  birds,  which  it  impales  in  the  same  manner,  antl 
afterwards  tears  them  to  pieces  at  leisure. 

1  njm  his  attempts  to  imitate  the  notes  of  other  small  birds, 
ill  Canada  and  some  parts  of  New  I'Jigland  he  is  sometimes 
calkil  a  Mocking  Jh'nL  His  usual  note,  like  that  of  the  follow- 
iiiu  >pecies,  resembles  the  discorilant  creaking  of  a  sign-board 
hiiii:^' ;  and  my  friend  Mr.  I5ro\vn  has  heard  one  mimicking  the 
(jiKK  king  of  his  Ducks,  so  that  they  answered  to  him  as  to  a 
iK(  ov  fowl.  They  also  imitate  other  birds,  and  I  have  been 
inl'')nned  that  they  sing  pretty  well  themselves  at  times,  or 
rather  chatter,  and  mimic  the  songs  of  other  birds,  as  if  with  a 
viiw  to  entice  them  into  sight,  for  the  purpose  of  making  them 
tluir  prey.  This  fondness  for  imitation,  as  in  the  Pies,  may 
however  be  merely  the  result  of  cajjrice. 

So  complete  at  times  is  the  resemblance  between  the 
Moi  king  Ijird  {Miinits  /^o/fyg/offi/s)  and  this  species  o{  Laniiis, 
that  it  is  difficult  to  distinguish  tliem  apart.  I  have  lately 
heard  one  (November  loth,  1S33),  employed  in  a  low  and  soft 
warMe  res-  •^''bling  that  of  the  Song  Sparrow  at  the  i)resent 
sci>on,  and  immediately  after  his  note  changed  to  that  of  the 
Catbird.  Like  that  pre-eminent  minstrel,  the  Orpheus,  he 
al>o  mounts  to  the  topmost  spray  of  some  lofty  tree  to  display 
his  (ki  eptive  talent  and  mislead  the  small  birds  so  as  to  bring 
them  uilhin  his  reach.  His  attitudes  are  also  light  and  airy, 
and  his  graceful,  flowing  tail  is  kept  in  fantastic  motion. 

The  ])arents  and  their  brood  move  in  company  in  ([ucst  of 
their  subsistence,  and  remain  together  the  whole  season.  The 
male  ht)ldly  attacks  even  the  Hawk  or  the  Magle  in  their  de- 
feiK  e,  and  with  such  fury  that  they  generally  di'dine  the  onset. 

TIk  Butcher  Bird  breeds  from  about  latitude  50'^  nortluvard.  mi- 
Sratiivj,-  in  winter  south  to  the  Potomac  and  Ohio  valleys. 

I)r  Arthur  Chadbourne,  of  Camliridge.  reports  that  he  lias  heard 
a  fi male  sing,  and  describes  her  as  "  an  unusually  tine  singer  and 
quite  a  mimic." 


V.  iL.   I.  —  II 


1 62 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


LOdGKRHKAl)   SHRIKE. 
Lamls  ludovicianus. 


Char.  Above,  bluish  ash,  generally  not  much  paler  on  rump;  under 
parts  pure  white,  rarely  any  lines  of  gray;  flanks  tinged  with  ,nray; 
forehead  and  side  of  head  black  ;  wings  and  tail  black  tijjped  with  whitu; 
white  patch  on  wings  ;  outer  tail  feathers  white.  Length  S)4  to  9'.< 
inches. 

Distinguished  fr(jm  borcalis  by  smaller  size  and  by  the  black  forehead 
and  white  under-parts. 

A\st.  In  a  tree  ;  roughly  made  of  twigs  and  grass,  lined  with  leaves 
and  feathers. 

jftV.;'i.  4-6;  dull  gray  with  green  tint  spotted  with  lilac  andbiuwn; 
o.cjs  X  0.70. 

This  species  principally  inhabits  the  warmer  parts  of  the 
United  States,  residing  and  breeding  from  North  Carolina  to 
Florida,  where  I  have  observed  it  likewise  in  winter.  It  was 
also  seen  in  the  table-land  of  Mexico  by  that  enterprising  natu- 
ralist and  collector,  Mr.  Hullock,  and  my  friend  Mr,  T.  Town 
send  foimd  it  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  range  and  in  the  territorv 
of  ( )regon.  According  to  Audubon  it  affects  the  low  countries, 
being  seldom  met  with  in  the  moinitainous  districts. 

Its  habits  are  shy  and  retiring,  and  it  renders  itself  usefnl, 
and  claims  protection  by  destroying  mice  around  the  planta- 
tion, for  which  it  sits  and  watches  near  the  rice-stack-;  for 
hoiu"s  together,  seldom  failing  of  its  prey  as  soon  as  it  appi'ar>, 
Like  most  of  the  genus,  it  is  also  well  satisfied  with  large  in- 
sects, crickets,  and  grasshoppers,  which  like  the  preceding 
.species  it  often  imi)ales.  In  the  breeding-season,  arronlinn 
to  Dr.  Bachman,  it  has  a  song  which  bears  some  resemblance 
to  that  of  the  young  Urown  Thrush  ;  and  though  very  irregnlnr, 
the  notes  are  not  un])leasing.  At  other  times  its  disrordant 
call  may  almost  be  compared  to  the  creaking  of  a  sign-lioarl 
in  windy  weather ;  it  jirobably  has  also  the  usual  talent  for 
mimicry.  The  pairs  mate  about  March,  at  which  tinu'  thi' 
male  frequently  feeds  the  female,  and  shows  great  courage  in 
defending  his  nest  from  the  intrusion  of  other  birds.     The  nest 


LOGGERHEAD   SHRIKE. 


163 


'\i,  according  to  Dr.  Bachman,  usually  made  in  the  outer  limbs 
oi  a  tree  such  as  the  live-oak  or  sweet-gum,  and  often  on  a 
cedar  15  to  30  feet  from  the  ground.  It  is  coarsely  made  of 
dry  crooked  twigs,  and  lineil  with  root-fibres  and  slender  grass. 
The  eggs,  3  to  5,  are  greenish  white.  Incubation  is  per- 
formed by  both  sexes  in  turn,  but  each  bird  procures  its  own 
toDil  in  the  intervals.  They  rear  two  broods  in  the  season. 
Its  manners  resemble  those  of  a  Hawk;  it  sits  silent  and 
watchful  until  it  espies  its  prey  on  the  ground,  when  it  pounces 
ui»i)ii  it,  and  strikes  first  with  the  bill,  in  the  manner  of  ^mall 
birds,  seizing  the  object  immediately  after  in  its  claws;  but  it 
bcldom  attacks  birds  except  when  previously  wounded. 

The  Loggerhead  is  now  said  to  be  restricted  to  the  southern 
portion  of  the  Eastern  States  north  to  Ohio  and  southern  lilinoiN  , 
l)ut  liirds  have  been  found  breedin<j  in  X'erniont,  Ahiine,  and  New 
lliunswick  that  resembled  true  luiUKncianus  more  tlian  excubito- 
ridcs,  to  which  variety  some  authorities  have  referred  them. 


Note.  —  The  White-kumi'i:i>  Shrike  (/,.  ludoiicianus  cxcu- 
l>iton\fes)  is  a  pale  form,  usually  restricted  to  the  Western  plains, 
but  ranging  occasionally  tbroui^h  the  region  of  the  Great  Lakes, 
1:1st  to  northern  New  England  and  the  .Maritime  Provinces  of 
Caa.ula. 


REDSTART. 
Setophaoa  ruticii.la. 

Char.  Male:  lustrous  blue-black;  belly  white;  jiatch  on  sides  of 
bri.a>i,  basal  half  of  wiug-quills  and  of  tail,  orange  red.  Female;  the 
black  of  the  male  replaced  by  olive  brown,  the  red  replaced  by  dtill 
yellow.  Young  males  like  female,  but  gradually  changing  to  full  i)luniai;c 
llill  and  feet  black.     Length  5  to  5}^  inches. 

Au-xf  An  exceedingly  gracefid  ;nul  compact  structure  saddled  ov.  a 
branch,  or  supported  bv  forked  twigs  of  a  sapling,  from  5  to  20  feet  tinm 
the  ground.  It  is  composed  of  a  variety  of  materials,  in  this  reuinn 
most  commonly  of  grass  and  vegetable  fibres  lined  with  fine  gr.is.-  nr 
horsehair. 

A;:;j.  4-c;:  dull  white,  spotted  chiefly  around  the  larger  end  with 
brown  and  lilac  ;  0.65  X  o  50 

This  beautiful  and  curious  bird  takes  up  its  summer  resi- 
dence in  almost  every  part  of  the  North  American  continent, 
being  found  in  Canada,  in  the  remote  interior  near  Red  River 
in  the  latitude  of  49  degrees,  throughout  Louisiana,  Arknnstb. 
and  the  maritime  parts  of  Mexico  ;  in  all  of  which  vast  coun 
tries  it  familiarly  breeds  and  resides  during  the  mild  season, 
withdrawing  early  in  September  to  tropical  America,  where,  i:. 
the  perpetual  spring  an<l  stunmer  of  the  larger  West  Indi: 
islands,  the  species  again  find  means  of  support.  At  lencth. 
instigated  by  more  powerful  feelings  than  those  of  ordiii- 
want,  the  male,  now  clad  in  liis  beautiful  nuptial  liver\,  ;ini: 
accompanied  by  his  mate,  seeks  anew  the  friendly  bit  to 
distant  natal  regions  of  his  race.     In  no  haste,  the  iilayt;:' 


iiuitn 
I'lirMii 

("clIKll 

Jior  iiK 
Tlu 

pa.ss. 
vanVd 
;ire  im 
Thrir  s 
,;^rc,tiy 

'fo'i  '/.» 

'ittrrcfl 
.\U)  ngi 
''■'//'  />//< 
in  the  tc 


REDSIART. 


i6s 


sides  "i 

Idled    'M:.1 

p  fcLl  tii>m 
-  is  vc;-i"" 


end 


with 


mer  ri-^i- 
;ontiiunt. 

.eel  Riv^' 
Arkansa>, 
■ast  co\uv 
Id  season. 
where,  ill 
'est  IndKi 
At  lenctl^" 
f  ordin.n 
livery,  aini 
lly  \val  W 


Redstart  does  not  api)ear  in  Pennsylvania  until  late  in  April. 
1  ne  month  of  May,  about  the  close  of  the  first  \veck,  Ushers 
his  arrival  into  the  States  of  New  ICngland  ;  but  in  Louisiana 
he  i?)  seen  as  early  as  the  beginning  of  March.  He  i-^  no  pen- 
sioner upon  the  bounty  of  man.  Though  sonieiinics  s-en.  on 
hi-  first  arrival,  in  the  darkest  part  of  the  orchard  or  g.irden, 
or  by  the  meandering  brook,  he  seeks  to  elude  obsenation, 
and  now,  the  great  object  of  his  migrations  having  arrived,  he 
rciires  with  his  mate  to  the  thickest  of  the  sylvan  shade,  Like 
hi>  relative  Sylvias,  he  is  full  of  life  and  in  i)er]>etual  motion. 
lie  does  not,  like  the  loitering  Pewee,  wait  the  accidental  ..j)- 
pniach  of  his  insect  prey,  but  carrying  the  war  amongst  thetn, 
he  is  seen  tlitting  from  bough  to  bough,  or  at  times  jjursuing 
ill:  [lying  troop  of  winged  insects  from  the  top  of  the  tallest 
tm  in  a  zig-zag.  hawkdike,  descending  llight,  to  the  grounrl, 
uiuK  the  clicking  of  the  bill  declares  distinctly  both  his  object 
.iiui  success.  Then  alighting  on  some  adj(jining  branch,  in- 
tiiitlv  watching  with  his  head  extended,  he  runs  ahjug  upon  :t 
fur  ill  instant  or  two,  flirting  like  a  fan  his  e.xpanded,  brilliant 
tail  tr  lui  side  to  side,  and  again  suddenly  siioots  off  like  an 
arrow  in  a  new  direction,  after  the  fresh  gime  he  has  discov- 
cnd  in  the  di.stance,  and  for  which  he  ;ip|)eared  to  be  recon- 
iiui'.ring.  .\t  first  the  males  are  seen  engaged  in  active  strife, 
[lur^uing  each  other  in  wide  circles  through  the  forest.  The 
kiiiale  seeks  out  her  prey  with  less  action  and  flirting,  anrl  in 
her  manners  resembles  the  ordinary  Sylvias. 

The  notes  of  the  male,  tliough  not  possessed  of  great  com- 
pass, are  highly  musical,  and  at  times  sweet  and  agreeably 
v.ujrd  like  those  of  the  Warblers.  Many  of  these  tone-,  as  they 
are  mere  trills  of  harmony,  cannot  be  recalled  by  ■  iiy  words, 
'lluir  song  on  their  first  arrival  is  however  nearly  nn  form,  anrl 
gre  itly  resembles  the  '/s/i  '/s/i  A//  A/Wv.  A//<\  A//c,  /\/if  /s/iru,  or  'A// 
A//  'A//  ''tshitslicc  of  the  summer  Yellow  liird  (Syh'ia  uKfir-ii), 
iiU'rcd  in  a  ])iercing  and  ratln'r  slender  tone  :  now  and  then 
;il>o  agreeably  varied  with  a  somewhat  plainti\'e  flowing  ^ti/ie 
tsii,'  fshc,  or  ;i  more  agreeable  'A////  'A////  tr  'tshci',  gi\-en  almost 
in  the  tones  of  the  common  Yellow  \\m\  (  Friif^illa  fn'sfii).     I 


i66 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


liavc  likewise  heard  individuals  warble  out  a  variety  of  sweet 
ami  tender,  trilling,  rather  loud  a'  1  shrill  notes,  so  superior  to 
the  ordinary  lay  of  incubation  that  the  performer  would 
scarcely  be  supposed  the  same  bird.  On  some  occasions  the 
male  also,  when  angry  or  alarmed,  utters  a  loud  and  snapping 
chirp. 

The  nest  of  this  elegant  Sylvan  Flycatcher  is  very  neat  ami 
substantial,  fixed  occasionally  near  the  forks  of  a  slender 
hickory  or  beech  sapling,  but  more  generally  fastened  or  a_L;L,'lii- 
tinated  to  the  depending  branches  or  twigs  of  the  former; 
sometimes  securely  seated  amidst  the  stout  footstalks  of  the 
waving  foliage  in  the  more  usual  manner  of  the  delicate  cradle 
of  the  Indian  Tailor  IJird,  but  in  the  deep  and  cool  shade  of  the 
forest,  instead  of  the  blooming  bower.  Eoth  parents,  but  ]iar- 
ticularly  the  male,  exhibit  great  concern  for  the  safety  of  their 
nest,  whether  containing  eggs  only  or  young,  and  on  its  being 
a])])roached,  the  male  will  flit  about  within  a  few  feet  of  the 
invader,  regardless  of  his  personal  safety,  and  exhibiting  uneciui- 
vocal  marks  of  distress.  The  parents  also,  in  their  solicitmle 
and  fear,  keep  uj)  an  incessant  ^tship  when  their  infant  brcjod 
are  even  distantly  approached. 

Nuttall  classed  the  Redstart  with  the  Flycatchers,  as  some  nf 
its  habits  —  such  as  darting  from  a  perch,  and  capturing  insects 
wliile  on  the  wing—  are  tyjiical  of  that  family:  but  the  more  mod- 
ern systcmatists  class  it  witli  tlic  Wood  Warblers.  It  is  an  aluin- 
dant  summer  resident  of  this  eastern  province,  breeding  Ironi 
about  the  valley  of  the  Potomac  to  southern  Labrador. 


HOODED   WARBLER. 


SmAANIA    .MirKATA. 

Thar.  Male  ;  above,  yellow  olive  ;  beneath,  rich  vellow  ;  sides  shaded 
wiih  ])ale  olive;  head  and  neck  black,  enclosing  a  wide  band  of  yellow 
;iuii.->  forehead  and  through  eyes;  tail  with  i)atch  of  white  on  two  or 
till' I  outer  tail-feathers.  IJill  black,  feet  Hesh-color.  Female:  similar  to 
link,  hut  sometimes  lacking  the  black,  in  which  specimens  the  crown  is 
olive  and  the  throat  yellow. 

AV.f/.  In  a  low  bush;  made  of  leaves  and  vegetal)le  fdire,  lined  with 
gr.i>s  or  horse-hair. 

/•,V;.f.  4-5;  creamy  white,  spotted  chiefly  around  the  larger  end  with 
hrdwii  and  lilac;  070  x  0.55. 

This  beautiful  and  singularly  marked  summer  species,  com- 
mon in  the  South,  is  rarely  seen  to  the  north  of  the  .State 
of  Maryland.  It  retires  to  Mexico  or  the  West  Indies  proba- 
l)ly  to  pass  the  winter.  At  Savannah,  in  (ieorgia,  it  arrives 
from  the  South  about  the  20th  of  March,  according  to  Wilson. 
It  i>  partial  to  low  and  shady  situations  darkened  with  under- 
wiiDil.  is  frequent  among  the  cane-brakes  of  Tennessee  and 
Mi^^issip]M,  and  is  exceedingly  active,  and  almost  p.erpetually 
ciTjiLTcd  in  the  pursuit  of  winged  insects.  While  thus  em- 
I'loviil,  it  now  and  then  utters  three  loud,  and  not  inimusical, 
WW  lively  notes,  resembling  the  words,  /rtvv  ^luy  7;c7/A//^'. 
hi  its  simple  song  and  general  habits  it  therefore  mtu  h  resem- 
bles the  summer  Yellow  Bird.  Its  neat  and  compact  nest 
is  Lrrncnlly  fixed  in  the  fork  of  a  small  bush,  formed  outwardly 
of  iiiDss  and  flax,  lined  with  hair,  and  sometimes  feathers  ;  the 


1 68 


SINGIXr,   BIRDS. 


L-ggs,  about  5,  are  grayish  white,  with  reddish  spots  towards  the 
great  end. 

The  Hooded  Warbler  is  a  Southern  species,  but  is  a  re.i,'ul,ir 
summer  resident  of  the  Connecticut  valley,  and  lias  been  found 
breeding  near  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  in  sontiiern  .Miciiigan.  It 
is  said  to  be  more  abundant  in  South  Carolina  than  elsewhere. 


NOTK.  —  Tlie  S.MAM.-iiKADEi)  Flycatchkr  ( ff /Avw/rt  iiiiiiuta 
and  Syh'ia  iiiinuta  of  Wilson  and  Audubon)  was  given  a  phue  in 
tile  "  Manual"  by  Nuttall,  who  alleged  to  liave  seen  the  species. 
Not  having  ])een  found  by  any  of  tlie  more  modern  observers,  it  li.is 
been  omitted  from  many  recent  works.  It  was  placed  on  the  "  hyijo- 
thetical  list"  by  the  A.  O.  A.  committee,  but  has  been  again  brounlit 
forward  by  Ridgeway,  in  his  "Manual."'  Wilson  stated  that  he- 
saw  it  in  New  Jersey;  Audubon  said  he  shot  one  in  Kentucky;  and 
Nuttall's  examples  were  in  Massachusetts.  As  tlie  birds  were  seen 
by  Nuttall  only  "  at  the  approach  of  winter,""  it  is  probable  they 
were  the  young  of  the  year  of  some  of  the  more  northern  breed- 
ing species. 


WILSON'S  WARBLER. 

WILSON'S    BLACK   CAP. 
SVLVANIA     I'USILLA. 

Char.  Above,  olive  ;  crown  Ijlack  ;  forehead,  cheeks,  and  entire  itnrlcr 
parts  yellow.  Female  and  young  duller,  and  black  cap  often  obscure, 
sometimes  lacking.     Length,  4J4!  to  5  inches. 

iW'st.  On  the  ground,  in  a  bushy  swam]),  or  on  branch  of  low  hu-h; 
of  twigs  and  vegct:>l)!e  fibre  lined  with  moss  or  fine  grass. 

E:^gs.     4-6;  wiiite  spotted  with  brown  and  lavender;  0.60  X  0.50. 

This  remarkable  species  of  sylvan  Flycatcher  was  first  oli- 
ser\ed  by  Wilson  in  New  Jersey  and  Delawnre  as  a  transitory 
bird  of  passage.  Audubon  has  noticed  it  in  I^al)rador  iii'l 
Newfoimdland,  where  it  was  breeding,  and  it  is  not  uncommon 
in  the  State  of  ^Laine.  He  also  saw  it  in  his  way  to  Texas 
early  in  April.  It  begins  to  migrate  from  Newfotmdlind 
about  the  middle  of  August,  and  is  seen  in  Maine  in  October. 
Mr.  Townsend  and  myself  had  the  pleasure  of  obser\'ing  the 


WILSON'S  WAKHLER. 


169 


;irri\;il  of  the  little  cheerful  songsters  in  the  wilds  of  Oregon 
alioiii  the  first  week  of  May,  where  these  birds  commonly  take 
u\i  iheir  summer  resilience,  and  seem  almost  the  countiTpart  of 
our  brilliant  and  cheerful  Yellow  lUrds  {.Sv/rui  asZ/rd),  tuning 
iluir  lay  to  the  same  brief  and  lively  ditty,  like  '/s/i  '/>//  'A// 
/.\/uii,  or  something  similar;  their  call,  however,  is  more  brief 
and  less  loud.  They  were  rather  familiar  and  unsuspicious,  kept 
in  l)ushes  more  than  trees,  particularly  in  the  thickets  which 
biirdered  the  Columbia,  busily  engaged  collecting  their  iii^.ect 
fan',  and  only  varying  their  emjjloyment  by  an  oc(  asional  and 
earnest  warble.  Jiy  the  12th  of  May  they  were  already  feed- 
ing their  full-fledged  young,  though  1  also  found  a  nest  on  the 
i()ii]  of  the  same  month,  ((jntaining  4  eggs,  and  just  commen- 
ciiiL:  incubation.  The  nest  was  in  the  branch  of  a  small  service 
bu>li,  iaiil  very  adroitly  as  to  concealment  upon  an  accidental 
mi^-'  of  old  moss  {L'sma)  that  had  fallen  from  a  tree  above. 
It  was  made  chiefly  of  ground  moss  {J/ypiiiiin),  with  a  thick 
lining  of  dry,  wiry,  slender  grass.  The  female,  when  ap- 
l)n)a(hed,  went  off  slyly,  running  along  the  ground  like  a 
mwii>c.  The  eggs  are  \ery  similar  to  those  of  the  summer 
Yellow  Tlird,  sprinkled  with  spots  of  pale  olive  brown,  inclined 
to  lie  disposed  in  a  ring  at  the  greater  end.  as  observed  by  Mr. 
Audii])()n  in  a  nest  which  he  found  in  Labrador  made  in  a 
dwarf  fir,  also  made  of  moss  and  slender  fir-twigs. 

Wilson's  Black  Cap  is  a  regular,  though  not  common,  summer 
resiiKnt  of  northern  New  England.  l)reeding  eliiellv  nortli  of  the 
Unitid  States.  It  is  not  uncommon  in  the  Maritime  I'rovinees, 
and  fairly  common  as  a  migrant  about  Montreal,  but  is  rarely  seen 
in  Ontario,  though  abundant  in  Ohio. 


BLUF.-C.R.W  r.XATCATCHER. 

I'OLIOFI'ILA    CKKULKA. 

Char.  Male:  alinve,  l)liiisli  gray,  darker  on  bead,  ])aler  on  nmip; 
fureliead  and  line  over  tiie  eye  l)laek  ;  l)enealli,  pale  bluish  white;  wiii,t;s 
dusky;  tail  lunger  than  the  body,  tlic  outer  featliers  partly  wliite.  i'V- 
nude ;  similar  to  the  male,  but  lacking  the  black  on  head.  Length  4', 
to  5  inches. 

A'c's/.  A  graceful,  cu|  shaped  structure,  saddled  on  limb  of  a  tree  15 
or  20  feet  from  the  gmund;  composed  of  felted  plant  fibre  ornamented 
externally  with  lichens  and  lined  with  feathers. 

/,";•,■•,?.     3-5;  bluish  white,  speckled  with  bright  brown;  0.55  X  0.15. 

l)Ut  for  the  length  of  the  tail,  this  would  rank  amoni,^  the 
most  (limintitive  of  birds.  It  is  a  very  dexterous,  lively  inscit- 
hnnter,  and  keeps  commonly  in  the  tojjs  of  tall  trees;  its 
motions  are  rai)id  and  incessant,  appearing  always  in  (jmst  of 
its  prey,  darting  from  bough  to  bough  with  hanging  wings  and 
elevated  tail,  uttering  only  at  times  a  feeble  song  of  /sir  t.uf  Aw, 
scarcely  louder  than  the  squeak  of  a  mouse.  It  arrives  in  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania  from  the  South  about  the  middle  of  Aiuil. 
and  seldom  passes  to  the  north  of  the  States  of  New  York  and 
Ohio,  though  others, following  the  courseof  the  large  ri\ers,  j)rn- 
etrate  into  Kentucky,  Indiana,  and  Arkansas.  Its  first  vi-its 
are  paid  to  the  blooming  willows  along  the  borders  of  w  iter- 
courses,  and  besides  other  small  insects  it  now  i)reys  on  the 
troublesome  mosqtiitoes.  About  the  beginning  of  May  it  forms 
its  nest,  which  is  usually  fixed  among  twigs,  at  the  height  of  10, 
or  sometimes  even  50,  feet  from  the  groimd,  near  the  sinumit 


BLUE-GRAV   GNATCATCIIER. 


171 


of  a  f(jrcst  tree.  It  is  formed  of  slight  materials,  such  as  the 
icAc^  of  buds,  stems  and  parts  of  fallen  leaves,  withered  blos- 
soms, fern  down,  and  the  silky  fibres  of  various  plants,  lined 
with  a  few  horsehairs,  and  coated  externally  with  lichens.  In 
this  frail  nest  the  CowTroopial  sometimes  dejjosits  her  et,'j^,  and 
kavt'S  her  offspring  to  the  care  of  these  affectionate  and  i)igmy 
nurses.  In  this  case,  as  with  the  Cuckoo  in  the  nest  of  the 
\(  How  Wren  and  that  of  the  Red-tailed  Warbler,  the  egg  is 
|iriilulily  conveyed  by  the  parent,  and  placed  in  this  small  and 
sKiidcr  cradle,  which  would  not  be  able  to  sustain  the  weight 
or  ri'ccive  the  body  of  the  intruder. 

'I'liougli  classed  with  the  Flycatchers  by  Nuttall  and  other  writers 
of  Ills  (lay,  this  species  is  now  ranked  as  one  of  the  highest  tvi)es  of 
the  Osrines,  or  Singing  Hirds,  and  a  suh-faniily  has  been  made  for 
thii  ,iiul  the  two  Western  forms.  Mr.  William  .Saunders  finds  the 
present  species  fairly  common  near  London,  Ontario,  but  it  is  only 
c.isii  il  in  .M.assachusetts,  and  is  rarely  seen  north  of  latitude  42°. 
It  winters  in  the  (iulf  States  and  southward. 


Vi:LL()\V-r.Ri:ASTEI)   CHAT. 

IC'II'.RIA    VIKKNS. 

ruAit.  Above,  olive;  lores  black;  throat  and  breast  rich  yellow; 
belly  white.     Lengtii  7  to  S  inches. 

A'ts/.  In  a  thicket  2  or  3  feet  from  tiie  ground  ;  of  dried  leaves,  stiips 
of  bark,  or  grass  lined  with  line  grass  or  filire.s. 

/■!:,'.;s.  3-4;  white,  witii  pink  tint,  spotted  with  hrown  and  lilac  ;  0.9c 
X  0.70. 

This  remarkable  bird  is  another  siimnicr  resident  of  the 
United  States  wliich  i)nsses  the  winter  in  tropical  America, 
being  found  in  Citiiana  and  iira/il,  so  that  its  migrations  piul)- 
al)ly  c.vtcnd  indifferently  into  the  milder  regions  (;f  both 
hi'misplicres.  Even  the  birds  essentially  tropical  are  still 
known  to  migrate  to  different  distances  on  either  side  the 
equator,  so  essential  and  necessary  is  this  wandering  habit  to 
almost  all  the  feathered  race. 

The  Icteria  arrives  in  Pennsylvania  about  the  first  week  in 
>vlay,  and  does  not  usually  appear  to  proceed  farther  north  an; 
east  than  the  States  of  New  York  or  Connecticut.  To  the 
west  it  is  found  in  Kentucky,  and  ascends  the  Ohio  to  the 
borders  of  Lake  Erie.  In  the  distant  interior,  however,  ik  J 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  towards  the  sources  of  the  Arki'i---, 
this  bird  was  observed  by  Mr.  Say,  and  Mr.  Townsend  saw  it 


YEM.OW-r.RKASTrn   CHAT. 


^7i 


h  yellow; 

ivcs,  -nips 

1 
lilac  ;  0.9c 

of   the 
Aiiurica, 

(jf     linlh 

arc    >till 

s\iii'  the 

habit  to 

t  week  in 
lorth  an '. 
To  the 
io  to  the 
k-er,  lie'  'f 
Urkan^as, 


..,  Walh-Wnlla,  on  the  Cohimhia,  breeding'  in  the  month  of 
li.nc.  It  retires  to  the  south  about  the  middle  of  August,  or 
a>  M)(in  a>.  the  only  brood  it  raises  are  fitted  to  undertake  their 
(linlant  journey. 

'Ihe  males,  as  in  many  other  migrating  birds,  who  are  not 
roiitinually  paired,  arrive  several  days  before  the  females.  As 
yjoM  as  our  bird  lias  chosen  his  retreat,  which  is  commonly  in 
smile  thorny  or  viny  thicket  when-  he  can  obtain  concealmcm, 
he  becomes  jealous  of  his  assmiied  rights  and  ri'si'Uts  the  hast 
iiittu^ion,  scolding  all  who  approach  in  a  varii'ty  of  odd  and 
um  outh  tones  very  difficult  to  describe  or  imitate,  excejit  by 
a  whistling,  in  which  case  the  bird  may  be  made  to  approach, 
Iml  seldom  within  sight.  His  responses  on  such  occasions  are 
((instant  and  rapid,  exjjressive  of  anger  and  anxiety;  and  still 
unseen,  his  voice  shifts  from  place  to  ]>lace  amidst  the  thicket. 
Siiitie  of  these  notes  resemble  the  whistling  of  the  wings  of  a 
living  (luck,  at  first  loud  and  rajiid,  then  sinking  till  they  seem 
to  end  in  single  notes.  .A  succession  of  other  tones  are  now 
heard,  some  like  the  barking  of  young  ]nippies,  with  a  \Mriety 
(if  hollow,  guttural,  uncommon  sounds  fre(|uently  repeated, 
and  terminated  occasionally  by  something  like  the  mewing  of 
a  cat,  but  hoarser,  —  a  tone  to  which  all  our  Vireos,  jiarticularly 
the  young,  ha\e  fre(|uent  recurrence.  All  these  notes  are 
uttered  with  vhemence,  and  with  such  --trange  and  various 
niiidiilations  as  to  apjiear  near  or  distant,  like  the  manceuvres 
of  \intrilo(piism.  In  mild  weather  also,  when  the  moon 
shines,  this  exuberant  gabbling  is  heard  nearly  throughout  the 
n!,'ht,  as  if  the  performer  was  disputing  with  the  echoes  of  his 
own  voice. 

Soon  after  their  arrival,  or  about  the  middle  of  May,  the 
Icterias  begin  to  build,  fixing  the  nest  commonly  in  a  bramble- 
huNh.  in  an  interlaced  thicket,  a  vine,  or  small  cedar,  4  or  5 
feet  from  the  ground.  The  young  are  hatched  in  the  short 
period  of  12  days,  and  leave  the  nest  about  the  second  week 
in  June.  \\"hile  the  female  is  sitting,  the  cries  of  the  mal'e  are 
still  more  lotid  and  incessant.  Me  now  braves  (oncealment, 
and  at  times  mounts  into  the  air  almost  perpendicularly  30 


174 


SINGING   niRDS. 


or  40  feet,  wilh  his  legs  hanging  down,  and  descending  as  he 
rose,  by  repeated  jerks,  he  seems  to  be  in  a  paroxysm  of  fear 
and  anger.  'I'he  usual  mode  of  Hying  is  not,  however,  diflcrLiU 
from  that  of  other  birds. 

The  food  of  the  Icteria  consists  of  beetles  and  other  :-hi  lly 
insects;  and  as  the  summer  ad\ances,  they  feed  on  various 
kinds  of  berries,  like  the  Flycatchers,  and  seem  particul.iiiy 
fond  of  whortleberries.  They  are  freijuent  through  the  Miildle 
States,  in  hedges,  thickets,  and  near  rivulets  and  waieiy 
situation  ■;. 

Tills  Cliat  is  now  found  regularly  in  Connecticut  and  nordiern 
Ohio,  and  sparingly  in  Massaeluisetts.  A  few  examples  have  liceu 
taken  in  New  Hampshire  and  southern  Ontario. 


V E L 1 .0\\'-TI  1 RO ATED   VIREC). 

ViRF.O    KI„\VIFRi  )NS. 

CllAR.  Aliovc,  rich  olive,  shading  to  ashy  gray  on  the  runi]!:  line 
acinss  liie  fmclicail  anil  arountl  the  eyes  yelhnv;  throat  and  hiea.-i  li.h 
yelliiw  ;  bellv  white,  ^ides  shaded  with  jnile  olive  ;  wings  dusky  witii  two 
white  bars,  tail  dusky,  the  feathers  edged  with  white.  Lengtli  5  lo  6 
inches. 

Nest.  In  woods  or  orchard;  suspended  from  fork  of  branch  5  In  'ir 
feet  from  the  ground  (usually  about  10  feet)  ;  a  graceful  and  compact 
structiue  of  grass  and  strips  of  l)ark  covered  with  lichens  and  lined  with 
grass  or  pine  needles. 

/(;^;v.  3-5  ;  wliite  with  roseate  tint,  thickly  spotted  around  the  lai^e 
end  with  shades  of  brown  ;  0.80  X  0.60. 

This  species  of  Vireo.  or  \Varl)ling  Flycatcher,  visits  the 
Middle  and  Northern  States  of  the  Union  about  the  beginniPL^ 
of  May  or  as  soon  as  his  insect  food  allows  him  a  means  ol 
subsistence.  He  resides  ehietly  in  the  forests,  where  he  hunts 
his  tiny  prey  among  the  high  branches  ;  and  as  he  shifts  from 
twig  to  twig  in  restless  i)iu-suit,  he  often  relieves  his  toil  with,  a 
somewhat  sad  and  indolent  note,  which  he  re])eats,  with  some 
variation,  at  short  intervals.  This  song  aj)pears  like  '//vvi? 
'/;vvv?.  etc.,  and  it  sometimes  finishes  with  a  complainini;  (  ill 


horhoix 
firiiih-  n 
the  sto 
fornu'd 

coniuct 

of  tile  si 

The>e 

bir.!. 

blides 


YELLOW-THROATED   \IREO. 


'75 


itli  tw'i 

5  I"  3^ 
iini);Kt 

;;(!  with 
iL  larse 


its   the 

iinnini: 
cans  ol 
-  hunts 
Is  from 
wiih  a 
ih  SDiue 
/ml 


I 


Inv. 


call 


of  rcroc^nition,  ^pnraigh  '/Tjra/^'/i.  These  syllables  rise  and 
fall  ill  iliffercnt  tones  is  they  are  repeated,  but  though  usually 
sweet  and  impressive,  are  delivered  too  slow  and  solemn  to  be 
generally  jjleasing.  In  other  respects  they  consiilerably  re:->em- 
ble  the  song  of  the  Red-I^yed  Warbling  Flycatcher,  in  whose 
c(>m]jany  it  is  often  heard,  blending  its  deej)  but  languid 
w,irl)le  with  the  loud,  energetic  notes  of  the  latter;  and  their 
united  music,  uttered  during  summer,  even  at  noonday,  is 
rmilered  peculiarly  agreeable,  as  nearly  all  the  songsters  of 
the  grove  are  now  seeking  a  silent  shelter  from  the  sultry  heat. 
In  the  warmest  weather  the  lay  of  this  bird  is  inileed  peculiarly 
^tnuig  anil  lively;  and  his  usually  long-dniwn.  almost  plaintive 
notes,  are  now  delivered  in  fine  succession,  with  a  peculiar 
ei  hoing  and  inii)ressive  musical  cadence.  ap])earing  like  a 
roaii'.ntic  and  tender  revery  of  delight.  The  song,  now  almost 
iiK  i.--sant,  heard  from  this  roving  sylvan  minstrel  is  varied  in 
bus  nearly  as  follows:  /;vv?  //vv?  f^rcoi,  prrait  prtoit  f  rrl-i^uut 
pr,-i\!i,  p(-i(.'ai  praioK,  prccai  prrco  praoU,  p)(ti>  pira:cif  p)'t'i'Oi\ 
\\\\K\\  irritated,  he  utters  a  \-ery  loud  and  hoarse  mewing 
py.ii^/i  pnfi'^/i.  As  soon,  however,  as  the  warm  weather  begins 
ti' il(  I  line,  and  the  br  'ness  of  incubation  is  finished,  about 
the  beginning  of  Augu.it,  this  sad  and  slow  but  interesting 
musician  nearly  ceases  his  song,  a  few  feeble  farewell  notes 
only  being  heard  to  the  first  week  in  Se]nember. 

This  sjjecies,  like  the  rest  of  the  genus,  constructs  a  \ery 
beautiful  pendulous  nest  about  3  inches  deep  and  2'j  in 
diameter.  One,  which  I  now  more  particularly  describe,  is 
suspended  from  the  forked  twig  of  xd  oak  in  the  near  neigh- 
borhood of  a  dwelling-house  in  the  country.  It  is  attached 
finnly  all  round  the  curving  twigs  by  which  it  is  supported  ; 
the  stoutest  external  materials  or  skeleton  of  the  fibric  is 
firmed  of  interlaced  folds  of  thin  stri])S  of  red  cedar  bark, 
connected  very  intimately  by  coarse  threads  and  small  masses 
ot  tiie  silk  of  spiders'  nests  and  of  the  cocoons  of  large  moths. 
1  lu -e  threads  are  moistened  by  the  glutinous  sal!\'a  of  the 
I'inl.  Among  these  external  materials  are  also  bknded  fine 
blailes  of  drv  grass.     'I'he   inside  is  thickly  bedded  with  this 


1/6 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


last  material  and  fine  root-fibres  ;  but  the  finishing  layer,  a>  if 
to  preserve  elasticity,  is  of  rather  coarse  grass-stalks,  llxtrr- 
nally  the  nest  is  coated  over  with  green  lichen,  attached  very 
artfully  by  slender  strings  of  caterpillars'  silk,  and  the  whole 
afterwards  tied  over  by  almost  imisible  threads  of  the  same,  so 
as  to  ai)i)ear  as  if  glued  on  ;  and  the  entire  fabric  now  resem- 
bles an  accidental  knot  of  the  tree  grown  over  with  moss. 

'l"he  food  of  this  sj^ecies  during  the  summer  is  insects,  but 
towards  autumn  they  and  their  yeung  feed  also  on  various 
small  berries.  About  the  middle  of  September  the  whole  move 
o^f  and  leave  the  United  States,  ])robably  to  winter  in  tropical 
America. 

Nuttall  followed  the  older  authors  in  naming  the  forest  as  the 
favorite  haunt  of  this  species.  Later  ol)servers  consider  thai  it 
trefpicnts  orcliards  and  fields  quite  as  much  as  the  woods,  and  it  is 
reported  as  common  in  tlie  gardens  near  Boston. 

It  occurs  throughout  tiie  New  Eni^land  and  Midflle  States  as 
far  west  as  Iowa,  and  in  Manitoba,  wlicre  it  is  common.  It  has 
not  been  found  in  the  IMaritime  Provinces,  but  is  common  near 
Montreal  and  in  Ontario. 


IJLUE-HEADED  A7Ri:0. 

SOLITARY    VIREO. 
VlRKO   SOLITARIUS. 

C'liAR.  Ahovc,  bright  olive;  line  from  nostril  to  and  around  tlie  eve? 
whitisli  ;  crown  antl  sides  of  licad  bUiish  a.sli  ;  beneath,  wliite,  sidc>  .iiul 
thinks  sliadcd  widi  olive  and  yellow;  wings  iliisky  with  two  b.;i>  '! 
veliowish  white ;  tail  dusky,  feathers  edged  with  white.  Length  5  uk 
inches. 

A'lS/.  Susjicnded  from  fork  of  branch  of  low  tree  or  bush  ;  com:  nsecl 
of  grass  or  vegetable  fibre,  ornamented  with  moss  or  lichens,  Unci!  with 
grass  and  plant  down. 

/■'X-^,  Creamy  white, spotted,  in  wreath  around  larger  end,  with  brigh: 
brown ;  o.So  X  0.50. 

This  is  one  of  the  rarest  species  of  the  genus,  and  from 
Georgia  to  Pennsylvania  seems  only  as  a  straggler  or  .icci- 
dental  visitor. 


BLUE- HEADED   VIREO. 


177 


It  possesses  all  the  unsuspicious  habits  of  the  genus,  allow- 
ing a  near  approach  without  alarm.  It  seldom  rises  beyond 
tlic  tups  of  the  canes  or  low  bushes  amidst  which  it  is  coin- 
inonly  seen  hopping  in  quest  of  its  subsistence,  which  consists 
of  insects  and  berries.  Its  flight  is  generally  tremulous  and 
agitated.  According  to  Dr.  Bachman,  "  it  is  every  year  be- 
coming more  abundant  in  South  Carolina,  where  it  remains 
fiDin  about  the  middle  of  February  to  that  of  March,  keeping 
t(j  ilic  woods.  It  has  a  sweet  and  loud  song  of  half  a  dozen 
nuu  >,  heard  at  a  considerable  distance." 

.\lH)ut  the  beginning  of  May,  in  the  oaks  already  almost 
will  illy  in  leaf,  on  the  banks  of  the  Columbia,  we  heard  around 
lb  the  i)laintive  deliberate  warble  of  this  species,  first  noticed 
by  W  ilson.  Its  song  seems  to  be  intermediate  between  that  of 
the  Red-eyed  and  Yellow-breasted  species,  having  the  preai, 
picai,  etc.,  of  the  latter,  and  the  fine  variety  of  the  former  in 
its  tunes.  It  darted  about  in  the  tops  of  the  trees,  incessantly 
oiigaLjed  in  quest  of  food,  now  and  then  disputing  with  some 
rival.  The  nest  of  this  bird  is  made  much  in  the  same  manner 
as  that  of  the  Vireo  olivaccus.  One  which  I  examined  was 
sus])ende<l  from  the  forked  twig  of  the  wild  crab-tree,  at  about 
ten  fee:  from  the  ground.  The  chief  materials  were  dead 
ami  whiiened  grass  leaves,  with  some  cobwebs  agglutinated 
tngcther,  externally  scattered  with  a  few  shreds  of  moss 
{J/\pii!iiii),  io  resemble  the  branch  on  which  it  was  hung; 
here  and  there  were  also  a  few  of  the  white  i)a]X'r-like  cap- 
siiles  of  the  spider's  nest,  and  it  was  lined  with  fine  blades  of 
ura^s  and  slender  root-fibres.  The  situation,  as  usual,  was 
"iK^n  but  shady. 

This  is  a  fairly  common  summer  resident  of  northern  Xow 
Kii;:laiul,  .ind  it  breeds  si)aringly  south  to  the  Middle  States,  and 
mirth  to  Hudson's  Hay.  It  is  a  rare  bird  in  the  Maritime  Prov- 
inces and  in  Quebec,  though  common  in  parts  of  Ontario. 


Xdi].-..  —  The  Mountain  SoiarAKV  \'\KV.ct  {]'.  solitan'us  alfi- 
tc/ii).  lately  discovered  by  Mr.  William  Hrewster  in  western  North 
Cudlina,  is  described  as  "nearly  uniform  blackish  plumbeous,  with 
only  a  faint  tinge  of  green  on  the  back." 

Vui..   I.  —   I'J 


WHITE-EYED   VIREO. 

ViREO    NOVEHORACENSIS. 

Char.  Above,  olive,  shading  to  ash  on  hind  neck  and  runij) ;  line- 
fr(Jin  nostril  to  anil  around  eyes,  yellow  ;  beneath,  white,  duller  (jn  liiiMat 
and  breast ;  sides  shaded  with  yellow  ;  wings  and  tail  dusky  ;  win:;-!), us 
yellow.     Length  about  5  inches. 

.Vi's/.  Suspended  from  forked  twig  of  low  bush  in  a  thicket,  sniiio- 
times  on  edge  of  swamp;  composed  of  various  materials,  — grass,  twigs, 
etc..  —  ornamented  with  moss  and  lieiiens,  and  lined  with  grass,  etc. 

Aj,yi.    3-5  ;  white,  spotted  around  larger  enil  with  brown  ;  0.75  X  0.55. 

This  interesting  little  bird  appears  to  be  a  constant  residtiit 
within  the  limits  of  the  United  States;  as,  on  the  12th  of  Jan- 
uary, I  saw  them  in  great  mimbers  near  Charleston,  S.  ('., 
feeiling  on  the  wax-myrtle  berries,  in  company  with  the  Vtllow- 
Rnmped  Sylvias.  At  this  season  they  were  silent,  but  very 
familiar,  descending  from  the  bushes  when  whistled  too,  and 
pee])ing  cautiously,  came  down  close  to  me,  looking  aboiU  with 
complacent  curiosity,  as  if  unconscious  of  any  danger.  In  \hv 
last  wei'k  of  I'ebruary,  Wilson  already  heard  them  singini,^  in 
the  southern  parts  of  Georgia,  and  throughout  that  month  to 
March,  I  saw  them  in  the  swampy  thickets  nearly  every  day, 
so  that  they  undoubtedly  reside  and  pass  the  winter  in  the 
maritime  parts  of  the  Southern  States.  The  arrival  of  this 
little  unsuspicious  warbler  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  Enalami 
is  usually  about  the  middle  of  April  or  earlier.  On  the  1  :th 
of  March  I  first  heard  his  voice  in  the  low  thickets  of  West 
Florida.  His  ditty  was  now  simply  ss'f  (with  a  whistle)  "'(' 
tiuttr  wlttc  w'e-wd  (the  first  part  very  quick).  As  late  a>  in 
the  first  week  in  May  I  obser\ed  a  few  stragglers  in  this  vicinity 


WIIITE-EVKD   VIREO. 


1 79 


lip  ;  line 
)n  ihiiiat 


piipint;   through   the  bushes;  and   in   the   latter  end   of  the 
iiiuiuh  a  pair   had   taken   up  their  abode  in  the  thickets  of 
I n'^h  I'ond,  so  that  those  which  first  arrive  leave  us  and  pro- 
( I  t(l  farther  to  the  north.     On  the  2 2d  of  June  I  heard  the 
in. lie  in  full  song,  near  his  nest  in  our  neighjjorhood,  where  in- 
(  uhation  was  going  on.      I  lis  warble  was  very  pleasing,  though 
somewhat   monotonous  and  whimsical.     'I'his  affectionate  note, 
ot'uii    rejjeated    near   to   his   faithful   mate   while   confined    to 
h(  r  nest,  was  like  ' tshipptii<tc-7>.<ii-say,  tshipprn'rc-wce-'lijas-say, 
sweetly   whistled,    anil  with    a  greater  comi)ass  of  V(jice  and 
|()i:<hiess  than  might  have   been  expected  from  the  size  of  the 
liulc  vocalist.     The  song  is  sometimes  changed  two  or  three 
tiiius  in  the  course  of  twenty  minutes;  and  1   have  heard  the 
f(il|i)\ving  i)hrases  :    \itt  tshippcuHit  '"unirr,  fs/iippr^^ui/  '7t.'urr ;  at 
aimihcr  time,   Ws/i/pCTcay  'fs/w  o  et  'tsherr.     On   another   vi^il 
tlir  little  performer  had  changed  his  song  to  'pip  />'  :^uii^/i  d 
/>//,,'.'(/,  with  a  guttural  trill,  as  usual,  at  the  last  syllabic.      He 
soon,  iKjwever,  varied  his  lay  to  'whip  tc  7^<oi  r*:'<v,  the  last  sylla- 
ble hut  one  considerably  lengthened  and  clearly  whittled.   S'lch 
were  the  captious  variations  of  this  little  cjuaint  and  pe-f  nliarly 
earnest  musician,  whose  notes  are  probal)ly  almost  continually 
virifd.     On  the  6th  of  October  I  still  heard  one  of  these  wan- 
dering little  minstrels,  who  at   intervals  had   for  several  weeks 
visited  the  garden,    probably  in  quest  of  berries.     His  short, 
(|uaint,  and  more  guttural  song  was  now  atslht-rall  (jirobably 
the  attempt  of  a  joung  bird).     As  late  as  the  30th  of  Octol>er 
thr  W'liite-Myed  Vireo  still   lingered   around   ("auibridg<-.  and 
on  the  margin  of  a  jiond,  surroimded  by  weeds  and  willow.-,,  he 
was  a(  tivi'ly  employed  in  gleaning  up  insects  and  their  larva-  ; 
and  now,  with,  a  feebler  tone  of  voice,  warbled  with  uncommon 
sweetness  whtdly  different  from  his  usual  strain,  sounding  Si^me- 
thing  like  the   sweet   whisperings  of  the  Song  Sjiarrow  at  the 
l)res(.nt   season,    and    was    i>erhaps   an  attempt   at  miniickry. 
0(1  asionally,   also,   he    blended    in  his  harsher,   scolding,  or 
querulous  mewing  call. 

This  species,  like  the  rest,  build  commonly  a  pensile  nest 
suspended  by  the  upper  edge  of  the  two  sides  on  the  circular 


I  So 


SINGING   IJIRDS. 


bend,  often  of  the  smilax  or  green  briar  vine.  In  the  Middle 
States  they  often  raise  2  broods  in  the  season,  generally  m.ike 
choice  of  thorny  thickets  f(jr  their  nest,  and  show  much  ( on- 
cern  when  it  is  approached,  descending  within  a  few  feel  vi 
the  intruder,  looking  down  and  hoarsely  mewing  and  scolding 
with  great  earnestness.  This  petulant  display  of  irritability  is 
also  continued  when  the  brood  are  a])proached.  though  as  lar^'c 
and  as  active  as  their  vigilant  and  vociferous  parents.  In  die 
Middle  States  this  is  a  common  species,  but  in  Massachusetts 
rather  rare.  Its  food,  like  the  rest  of  the  Vireos.  is  inserts 
and  various  kinds  of  berries,  for  the  former  of  which  it  hunts 
with  great  agility,  attention,  and  industry. 

"  Eastern  United  States,  west  to  the  Rockies,  soutli  in  winter  to 
(juateniala,"'  is  usually  giv(.'n  as  the  habitat  of  tiiis  s])ecies.  it  l:;is 
been  seen  rarely  north  of  southern  New  luigiand,  and  onlv  (<iic 
exampL-  has  l)een  taken  in  New  IJrunswiek,  though  Mr.  J.  M. 
Jones  considers  it  fairly  common  in  portions  of  Nova  Scotia. 
Tliere  is  no  authentic  report  of  its  occurrence  in  Ontario,  hut  .Mr. 
Mcllwrailh  thinks  it  may  yet  be  found  there. 

NoTK.  Mr.  William  Ilrewster  has  lately  described  the  Kkv 
Wkst  V'lKi'.o  {f.  novcboracciisis  mayuardi)  as  a  larger  bird  than 
the  type  and  of  duller  color,  the  yellow  paler. 

15i:i.i,"s  \'iRi;o  (  \l)co  hcllii).  a  bird  of  much  the  same  appearance 
and  habits  as  tiie  Wiiite-eyed,  is  found  in  the  prairie  districts  of 
Illinois  and  Iowa.  It  ranges  thence  to  the  eastern  base  ui  the 
Rockies. 


WAR  P.  MX  CI   VIREO. 

0 

ViRKO    CM.VUS. 

Cn.\R.  'iiiove,  grayish  olive  hritilUcr  on  the  rump,  shading  to  ashv  nn 
the  hiad ;  beneaili,  i)iirfy  white,  tlanks  and  sides  tinged  with  olive  yelNuv 
Length  5  to  5>2  inches. 

Xest.  In  open  jiastiire  ./r  shaded  street,  suspended  from  fork  ^f  a 
high  branch;  comjiosed  of  grass  and  vegetable  fibre,  and  lined  \vi;:i  line 
grass. 

/tX'A'c  3-4;  white,  spotted,  ehiclly  about  the  larger  end,  wuh  brown; 
075X05;. 


VVARULIXG    VIREO. 


I8l 


fccl  tlf 
;ol(ling 
)ility  is 
IS  larLj;e 
In  ihc 

inM-'cls 
il  hunts 


winter  to 

.  It  lias 
onlv  one 
.Ir.'j.M- 
a  Scotia. 
1,  but  Mr. 


the  Key 
bird  til  an 

icarance 

strii  t-  "t 
ic  ol   tlic 


to  ashv  "" 
live  yell"w- 

fori,  "f  ^ 
;d  with  line 


'I'liis  sweetest  and  moMt  constant  warbler  of  the  forest,  c\- 
tcnthng  his  northern  migrations  to  the  confines  of  Canada  and 
jlong  the  coast  of  the  I'acific  to  the  Oregon,  arrives  from  trop- 
ical America  in  Pennsylvania  about  the  middle  of  April,  and 
riMciies  this  part  of  New  Ihigland  early  in  May.  His  livery, 
liU- tliat  of  the  Nightingale,  is  plain  and  nnadurned  ;  but  the 
hwcet  melody  of  his  voice,  —  suri)assing,  as  far  as  Nature  usually 
sur|»asses  art,  the  tenderest  airs  of  the  llute,  —  ])()m'ed  out  often 
Inim  the  rising  dawn  of  day  to  the  approach  of  evening,  and 
\,^>u)n<,  even  during  the  sultry  heat  of  noon,  when  most  other 
\uy<\^  are  still,  gives  additional  interest  to  this  little  vocalist. 
Willie  chanting  forth  his  easy,  flowing,  tender  airs,  apparently 
without  effort,  so  contrasted  with  the  interrui)ted  emphatical 
MiULiofthe  l<ed-l"vye,  he  is  gliding  along  the  thick  and  le.ify 
lir UK  hes  of  oiu"  majestic  elms  and  tallest  trees  busied  in  (juest 
ot  1)1-1  restless  insect  prey.  With  us,  as  in  I'eimsylvania,  the 
>])ei  ies  is  almost  wholly  confined  to  our  villages,  and  e\en 
cities.  It  is  rarely  ever  observed  in  the  woods;  but  from  the 
tall  trees  which  decorate  the  streets  and  lanes,  the  almost  in- 
visilijt'  musician,  secured  from  the  enemies  of  the  A)rest,  is 
lu-.ud  to  cheer  the  house  and  cottage  with  his  untiring  song. 
As  late  as  the  2d  of  October  1  still  distinguished  his  tuneful  voice 
from  amidst  the  yellow  fading  leaves  of  the  linden,  near  which 
he  had  passed  away  the  summer.  The  approaching  ilissolu- 
ti,)ii  (if  those  delightful  connections  which  had  been  cemented 
liy  aifection  and  the  cheerless  stillness  of  autmnn,  still  called 
ui»  a  feeble  and  plaintive  revcry.  Some  days  after  this  late 
j)t-rind,  warmed  by  the  mild  rays  of  the  morning  stm,  I  heard, 
as  it  were,  faintly  warbled,  a  parting  whisper ;  and  about  the 
ninl'lle  of  this  month  our  vocal  woods  and  fields  were  once 
more  left  in  dreary  silence. 

W  lun  offended  or  irritated,  our  bird  utters  an  angry  '/s/iay 
'A/'/iH,  like  the  Catbird  and  the  other  Vireos.  and  sometimes 
makes  a  loud  snapping  with  his  bill.  The  nest  of  the  Warbling 
Virco  is  generally  pendulous,  and  ambitiously  and  securely  sus- 
'.leiidid  at  great  elevations.  In  our  elms  1  have  seen  one  of 
tlie^e  airy  cradles  at  the  very  summit  of  one  of  the  most  gigan- 


[^ 


J  82 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


tic,  more  than  100  feet  from  the  ground.  At  other  times  they 
are  not  more  than  50  to  70  feet  high.  'Ilu'  only  nest  I  have 
been  able  to  examine  was  made  externally  of  flat  and  ilry 
sedge-grass  blades,  for  which,  as  I  have  observed,  are  o((  a- 
sionally  substituted  strings  of  bass.  'I'hese  dry  blades  ami 
strips  are  confined  and  tied  into  the  usual  circular  form  hy 
caterpillars'  silk,  blended  with  bits  of  wool,  silk-weed  lint,  and 
an  accidental  and  sparing  mixture  of  vernal  grass  tops  and  uM 
ap])le-blossoms.  It  was  then  very  neatly  lined  with  the  small 
flat  blades  of  the  meadow  grass  calletl  Poa  compressa. 

This  species  is  rather  uiuomnion  in  the  Maritime  ProviiicLS 
excepting  near  the  Maine  border  in  New  Brunswick,  and  in  tliu 
more  southern  portions  of  Nova  Scotia.  It  is  fairly  common  in 
southern  Quebec,  and  abundant  in  Ontario.  In  the  New  Knuland 
and  Middle  States  it  is  an  abundant  summer  resident.  At  the  West 
it  ranges  north  to  the  fur  countries. 


RED-EVKD   VIREO. 

ViRF.O    OI.IVACF.OUS. 

CiiAR.  Above,  bright  olive,  crown  ashy  :  beneath,  white  faintly  tinned 
witli  dull  olive  on  sides  ;  wings  and  tail  dusky.  Length  5^!  to  6'i 
inches. 

XiSf.  \w  an  open  pasture  or  along  margin  of  field  ;  suspended  from 
fork  of  an  upper  branch  ;  composed  of  grass  and  vegetable  fibri.  and 
lined  with  fine  grass,  etc. 

AS'-f-  3"5;  white  (sometimes  with  a  faint  i)ink  tint)  spotted  sparinjlv. 
around  larger  end,  with  dull  brown  ;  o.So  X  0.55. 

These  common  and  indefatigable  songsters  appear  to  inhaltit 
every  part  of  the  American  continent,  from  Labrador  to  the 
large  tropical  islands  of  Jamaica  and  St.  Domingo  ;  thcv  are 
likewise  resident  in  the  mild  tableland  of  Mexico.  'Those 
intlividuals  who  pass  the  siunmer  with  us,  however,  migrate  to 
the  warmer  regions  at  the  commencement  of  winter,  as  none 
are  found  at  that  season  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States. 
The  Red-B]yed  Vireo  arrives  in  Pennsylvania  late  in  Aj-jrit.  and 
in  New  England  about  the  beginning  of  May.     It  inhabit:,  tlie 


RED-EVED  VIKEO. 


183 


s  thi'V 
I  have 
id  dry 
ocea- 
ns  and 
(ini  by 
nt,  and 
md  uld 
ic  hinall 


rovuices 
d  in  the 
mnii'n  in 
Kniiland 
the  West 


itlv  tinned 
Vz    t->   Ci': 

k1c(1  from 
fibri.,  and 


spar 


inalv. 


-hadv   forests  or  tall   trees  near  gardens  and  the  suburbs  of 
\  illaL^es,  where  its  loud,  lively,  and  energetic  song  is  often  con- 
tiiiui'd,  with  little  intermission,  for  several  hours  at  a  time,  as 
It  darts  and  pries  among  the  thick  foliage  in  cjuest  of  insects 
and  small  caterpillars.     From  its  first  arrival  imtil  August  it  is 
the  most  distinguished  warbler  of  the  forest,  and  when  almost 
all  the  other  birds  have  become  mute,  its  notes  are  yet  heard 
with  unabated  vigor.     Even  to  the  5th  of  October,  still  enliv- 
ened by  the  feeble  rays  of  the  sun,  the  male  faintly  recalls  his 
sun^.  and  plaintively  tunes  a  farewell  to  his  native  woods.    His 
suiiinn'r  notes  are  uttered  in  short,  emphatical  bars  of  2  or  3 
syllables,  and  have  something  in  them  like  the  simple  lay  of 
the    Thrush  or  American  Robin  when  he  first  earnestly  and 
hluwlv  commences  his  song.     He  often  makes  use,  in  fact,  of 
the  same  expressions;  but  his  tones  are  more  monotonous  as 
well  as  mellow  and  melodious,  like  the  rest  of  the  Vireos.     In 
niui>i  and  dark  summer  weather  his  voice  seems  to  be  one 
ciiniinued,  untiring  warble  of  exquisite  sweetness;  and  in  the 
mo>t  ])opulous  and  noisy  streets  of  ]»oston  his  shrill  and  tender 
lay  is  commonly  heard  from  the  tall  elms ;  and  as  the  bustle  of 
carts  and  carriages  attempts  to  drown  his  voice,  he  elevates  his 
pi]H'  with  more  vigor  and  earnestness,  as  if  determined  to  be 
heard  in   spite   of  every  discord.     The  call  of  "  \Vhif^-Ti>i)i- 
kiih\'"  attributed  to  this  species  by  Sloane  and  even  Wilson,  I 
have  never  heard  ;  and  common  as  the  species  is  throughout 
the  I'nion,   the   most  lively  or  accidental   fit  of  imagination 
never  yet  in  this  cotintry  conceived  of  such  an  association  of 
sounds.     I   have  already  remarked,  indeed,  that  this  singular 
'ill  is.  in  fact,  sometimes  uttered  by  the  Tufted  Titmouse. 
When  otir  Vireo  sings  slow  enough  to  be  distinctly  heard,  the 
t'llldwing  sweetly  warbled  phrases,   variously    trans])()sed    and 
t'nird.  may  often  be  caught  by  the  attentive  listener  :   ' f.shooc 
p'U'n'- prcii'i  miis'ik  \/u  ^iu  \/i/,  ^fs/iooj'c  'hrrr  'Iinr,  Jirar  here, 
'k^ia^'rlfs/ian/,  '/>'s//(\i;;/7f  'tshcvu,  'fslicrvoo  'tsluirfc  f^rcaifpn-o'i, 
—  ihe  whole  delivered  almost  without  any  sensible  inter\-al,  with 
earnest  animation,  in   a   ]')athetic,  tender,  and   pleasing  strain, 
well  calculated  to  produce  calm  and  thoughti\il  reflection  in 


^^"Wipi 


184 


siN(;i\(;  niRDS. 


the  sensitive  mind.  Yet  wiiile  this  heavenly  revery  strikes  im 
the  hiunan  ear  with  such  peculiar  effect,  the  humble  mu.ii(  1  ai 
himself  seems  bul  little  cuncerned  ;  for  all  the  while,  perhaps, 
that  this  ilowing  chorus  enchants  the  hearer,  he  is  casii:illv 
hopping  fnjin  spray  to  spray  in  cpiest  of  his  active  or  crawhiii,' 
prey,  and  if  a  cessation  occurs  in  his  almost  untiring  lay,  it  1-, 
occasioned  by  the  caterpillar  or  fly  he  has  ju^t  fortunately  1  ip- 
tured.  So  unaffected  are  these  delightful  I'fforls  (jf  instiiK  i, 
and  so  unconscious  is  the  performer,  aj)])arent]y,  of  this  ])lr  :s- 
ing  faculty  bestowed  ujion  hiui  l)y  Nature,  that  he  may  truly  he 
considered  as  a  messenger  of  harmony  to  man  alinir.  Wan- 
tonly to  destroy  these  delightful  aids  to  sentimental  hap])ini-,s 
ought  therefore  to  be  viewed,  not  only  as  an  act  of  barbaiiiv, 
but  almost  as  a  sacrilege. 

The  Red-l^yed  \'ireo  is  one  of  the  most  favorite  of  all  tin; 
ado])ted  nurses  of  the  Cowbird  ;  and  the  remarkable  gentle- 
ness of  its  dis]i()sition  and  watchful  affection  for  the  safet\  (jf 
its  young,  or  of  the  foundling  (onfided  to  its  care,  am])ly  jiMJ- 
fies  this  selection  of  a  foster-parent.  'J'he  male,  indeed,  (k- 
fends  his  nest  while  his  mate  is  sitting,  with  as  much  spirit  as 
the  King  IJird.  driving  away  every  intruder  and  com])lainiii,L;  in 
a  hoarse  mewing  tone  when  approached  by  any  incpii^iiivr 
observer.  By  accident  the  eggs  were  destroyed  in  a  ni>t  of 
this  species  in  the  Botanic  (larden,  in  a  sugar-maple  about  zn 
feet  from  the  ground.  At  this  time  no  complaints  were  luiril, 
and  the  male  sang  all  day  as  cheerful  as  before.  In  a  trw 
days,  unwilling  to  leave  the  neighborhood,  they  had  madi  a 
second  nest  in  a  beech  at  the  <)])posite  side  of  the  same  jnun 
ises  ;  but  now  the  male  drove  away  every  intruder  with  ilu 
greatest  temerity.  The  young  of  this  species  are  often  hat(  bed 
in  about  13  days,  or  24  hours  later  than  the  parasitic  Troopi:-.); 
but  for  want  of  room  the  smaller  young  are  usually  stifli  il  or 
neglected.  I  have,  however,  seen  in  one  nest  a  surviving  birl 
o{  rar/i  kiiu/ m  a  fair  way  for  being  reared;  yet  by  a  sini.'ul.ir 
infatuation  the  supposititious  bird  ajipeared  by  far  the  in«i-t 
assiduously  attended,  and  in  this  case  the  real  young  of  the 
species  seemed  to  be  treated  as  puny  foundlings. 


REl)-EVi:n    VIKLO. 


185 


CCS  on 
i.ii(  1  ill 
■rhaps, 
asiially 
awiinj; 
ly,  it  is 
ly  cap- 
nslinct, 
i  IjUms- 
ruly  1)0 
Wan- 
.ppinr-^s 
irbarity, 


III  ihc  month  of  Augu>l  Ur-  youuL;  iVd  gn-odily  on  the  small 
hollies  of  llic  bittLT  coriiL'l  ami  astringciil  I'ihuntuin  i/rii/ci/niii, 
as  well  as  other  kinds.  One  of  these  inex|)erienced  birds 
hopped  close  round  me  in  an  adjoining  bush,  without  any  fear- 
ful aitprehension  ;  and  as  late  as  the  jOlh  of  ( )(tober  two 
vDimu  birds  of  the  Red-flyc  were  still  lingering  in  this  vicinity, 
and  busily  engaged  in  gleaning  subsisleiu  e.  Imager  after  llies, 
about  the  25th  of  August  a  young  binl  with  ha/el  instead  of 
red  eyes  entered  a  chamber  in  the  neighb(jrhood  and  l)ecame 
my  inmate.  I  clipped  his  wing  and  left  him  at  large  in  a 
pioin;  he  soon  became  very  gentle,  took  grasshojipers  and 
lliis  out  of  my  hand,  eat  Vihuiinim  berries  with  a  gocnl  appe- 
litf,  and  in  short  seemed  pleased  with  his  cpiarters.  A  tly 
could  not  stir  but  it  was  instantly  caught  ;  his  only  diffK  iiliy 
\va>  with  a  lame  King  Mini  who  occui)ied  the  same  apartment. 
'I'hr  King  apjieared  very  jealous  of  this  little  harmless  com- 
piuion  ;  snajjped  his  bill  at  him  when  he  apjtroached,  and  be- 
grudged him  subsistence  when  he  perceived  that  he  fed  on  the 
same  tbod  with  himself.  At  length  he  w(Mild  come  to  me  for 
provi.iii)n  antl  for  protection  from  his  tyrannical  associate.  I  Jut 
the  career  of  my  interesting  and  lively  com])anion  was  soon 
terminated  by  death,  occasioneil,  in  all  probability,  by  a  diar- 
liuea  produced  in  conseciuence  of  swallowing  a  small  lock  of 
hair  with  his  fo(,Ki,  which  was  fotmd  in  hi-;  stomach.  This  bird, 
very  different  from  a  Sxlria  aiitiiiitiiali.<  which  I  afterwards  had 
in  my  jjossession,  regurgitated  by  the  bill,  like  the  King  IJird, 
uelltis  of  the  indigestil)Ie  i)arts  of  his  food,  such  as  the  legs 
and  wings  of  grassh()])])ers  and  flies,  and  the  skins  and  seeds  of 
berries.  I'lilike  the  King  r>ird  in  one  ])articular,  however,  he 
I'lMcil  his  head  under  his  wing  when  at  rest,  and  reposed  with 
threat  soundness  ;  whereas  for  eight  months  I  was  never  able  to 
'iete(  I  the  former  asleep. 


■HHfeHH 


im 


SINGING  lilKDS. 


PHILADKLPHIA   VIREO. 

VlKi;0    I'lllLAltKl.I'lllCL'.S. 

CliAK.     Above,  grayibli  ulivc,  brighter  on  rump,  shading  to  ashv  op 
crown,  beneath,    very    pale    yellow,    whiter   on   throat   and  belly ;  >idc 
.shiidcd  with  olive.     Length  .d)oiit  4-'4   inches. 

A'i.u'.  In  a  grove  ;  su>pcnded  I'roni  (orked  twigs  of  low  branch  ;  uim- 
posed  of  grass  and  birch  bark. 

£j;,:;s     4-z;  while,  spotted  with  brown;  .' 

Thi.s  s])ecics  was  tirst  described  by  Mr.  Cassin,  in  1S51.  from 
a  specimen  sliut  i)y  liim  near  riuladclpliia  in  i(S42.  'I'he  Mnl's 
lial^its  remain  almost  unknown,  'I'he  only  nest  yet  discovered  wa.s 
found  Ijy  Mr.  Ernest  1^.  'I'liompson  in  Manitoba. 

Of  tlie  bird's  ranye  very  little  is  known.  A  few  examples  have 
been  taken  in  New  Jvitjlaiul,  and  in  1S82  our  party  secured  siwral 
at  Ednuindston.  in  New  Brunswick,  near  the  Quebec  border.  I)r. 
Wheaton  considered  it  a  regular  spring  and  fall  migrant  throu:;li 
Ohio,  but  very  few  have  been  observed  in  Ontario. 


Nr)Ti:.  .Mr.  Comeau  has  taken  at  Godbout.  on  the  nortli  >lioi 
of  the  (iidf  of  St.  I.awrence.  one  example  of  the  VKl.l.ow-f.KKi. 
X'iKi.o  {r.  flaiioi'triiks),  a  bird  of  Mexico  and  Central  Ameriia 


)  ashy  up 
nch  ;  >."i"- 


S51.  lr<ini 
riic  I'in'.'.s 
)vcrcil  \\a.s 

iipk'S  have 
red  si-vcral 
jnk-r.  Ur. 
ml  through 


north  Nhoi 
i.(,\v-(,ui;i. 


MOCK  I  NO    IMRD. 

MiiMUS  r()i,V(;i.()rir,s. 

CliAK.  Above,  ashy  gray,  darker  on  \vini;s  and  tail ;  wind's  witli  two 
wliiu'  liars;  outer  tail-featlurs  white  ;  beneatli,  wliiK  ,  tinged  witli  ^rav  on 
tilt  Imiist ;  bill  and  feet  blaci<.     Lengtii  9  to  1 1  inciies 

i\'<  t.  In  a  tliicktt  or  bunch  of  low  liusiio  ;  coniix'  d  of  twi^-  roots, 
gras-,  etc. 

/,...  4-6;  greenish  blue  to  pale  buff,  marked  wiiii  icddisii  brown  ; 
0.95  X  0.70. 

This  unrivalled  Orpheus  of  the  forest  and  natural  wonder  of 
America  inhabits  the  whole  cojitinent,  from  the  Slate  of  Rhode 
Mind  to  the  larger  isles  of  the  ^^'est  Indies  ;  and  continuing 
through  the  equatorial  regions,  is  found  in  the  southern  hemi- 
s|ihtre  as  far  as  Brazil.  Nor  is  it  at  all  confined  to  the  Kastern 
or  Atlantic  States.  It  also  exists  in  the  wild  territory  of  Ar- 
kansas more  than  a  thousand  miles  from  tlu'  mouth  of  Red 
Ri\tr ;  and  I  have  since  seen  it  in  the  scanty  forests  of  ri)i)er 
("alifurnia.  It  breeds  at  the  distant  western  sources  of  the 
I'latte,  near  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  as  well  as  in 
IVxas ;  and  Mr.  Thillock  saw  it  in  the  tabledand  of  Mexico. 
The  Mo<king  liird  rears  its  young,  and  consequently  displays 
its  wiinderful  powers,  in  all  the  intermediate  regions  of  its 
risiilriice  in  the  United  States  to  the  peninsula  of  Idorida.  It 
•^Pl't^irs,  in  short,  permanently  to  inhabit  the  milder  regions  of 


1 88 


SINGIXG    HIRDS. 


ihc  western  world  in  either  hemisi)here ;  and  the  indivi(hials 
bred  north  of  the  Delaware,  on  this  side  the  ecjuator,  are  a\\ 
that  ever  migrate  from  their  summer  residence.  A  still  more 
partial  migration  takes  place  also,  i)rol)al)ly,  from  west  to  east, 
in  (piest  of  the  footl  and  shelter  which  the  maritime  districts 
afford,  'i'hoiigh  now  so  uncommon  in  that  vicinity,  50  or  do 
years  ago,  according  to  IJartram,  it  even  wintered  near  I'hila- 
delphia,  and  made  a  temporary  abode  in  the  mantling  i\y  of 
his  venerable  mansion,  la  bunnner  a  few  proceed  as  fir  as 
Rhode  Island,  ftjllowing  the  mild  temperature  of  the  sea-co,i^t; 
but  farther  north  these  birds  are,  I  believe,  nearly  unknown, 
except  rarely  and  occasionally  in  Massachusetts  near  the  .^ea. 
With  the  advance  of  the  season,  also,  in  the  coimtry  whii  li  it 
inhabits,  varies  the  time  of  incubation.  I'^arly  in  April  tiic 
nests  are  l)egun  in  the  maritime  parts  of  Georgia,  but  not  before 
the  miildle  of  May  in  Pennsylvania. 

In  the  winter  these  birtls  chiefly  subsist  on  berries,  ])arti(:- 
ula.ly  those  of  the  \'irginia  juniper  (called  red  cedar),  wax- 
myrtle,  holly,  smilax,  sumach,  sour-giun,  and  a  variety  of 
others,  which  furnish  them  and  many  other  birds  with  a  pli  n- 
tiful  repast.  Insects,  worms,  grasshoppers,  and  larvae  are  the 
food  on  which  they  principally  subsist  when  so  eminently  vnial 
and  engaged  in  the  task  of  rearing  their  young.  In  the  Soutli- 
ern  States,  where  they  are  seldom  molested,  with  ready  sa^a- 
city  they  seem  co  court  the  S(jciety  of  man  and  fearlesslv  l)n|i 
aroimd  the  roof  of  the  house  or  fly.  before  the  planter's  dnur. 
When  a  dwelling  is  first  settled  in  the  wilderness,  this  bin!  is 
not  seen  sometiu-.es  in  the  vicinity  for  the  first  year;  but  at 
length  he  pays  his  welcome  visit  to  the  new-comer,  gratifnil 
with  the  little  advantages  he  discovers  around  him,  ami  ><  ek- 
ing out  also  the  favor  and  fortuitous  protection  of  human 
society.  He  becomes  henccfi)rth  familiar,  and  only  quarrels 
with  the  cat  and  dog.  whose  approach  he  instinctively  dreuls 
near  his  nest,  and  never  ceases  his  complaints  and  attacks  until 
they  retreat  from  his  sight. 

None  of  the  domestic  animals,  or  man  himself,  but  p artic- 
Tilarly  the  cat  and  dog,  can  approacn  during  the  peri  1 1  nf 
mcubntion,  withotit  receiving  an  attack  from  these  affectionate 


MOCKING   BIRD. 


189 


gimrdians  of  their  brood.  Their  most  insidious  and  deailly 
LiKinics,  however,  are  reptiles,  particularly  the  black  snake, 
wliii  spares  neither  the  eggs  nor  young.  As  soon  as  his  fatal 
a|)pr()ach  is  discovered  by  the  male,  he  darts  \\\H)n  him  without 
hesitation,  eludes  his  bite,  and  striking  him  about  the  head, 
and  particularly  the  eyes,  where  most  vulnerable,  he  soon  suc- 
ctcils  in  causing  him  to  retreat,  and  by  redoubling  his  blows, 
ill  >pite  of  all  pretended  fascination,  the  wily  monster  ol"ten 
t"all.->  a  victim  to  his  temerity  ;  and  the  heroic  bird,  leaving  his 
Liuniy  dead  on  the  field  he  provcjked,  mounts  on  the  bush 
al)o\c  his  affectionate  mate  and  brood,  and  in  token  of  victory 
tclibrates  with  his  loudest  song. 

'I'he  Mocking  liird,  like  the  Nightingale,  is  destitute  of  bril- 
liant plumage  ;  but  his  form  is  beautiful,  delicate,  and  synnnet- 
riral  in  its  proportions.  His  motions  are  easy,  rapid,  antl 
<,T!(  (till,  i)erpetually  animated  with  a  playful  caprice  and  a 
liii)k  that  a]ipears  full  of  shrewdness  and  intelligence.  He 
li>t(,iis  with  silent  attention  to  each  passing  soimd,  treasures  up 
k^^niis  from  everything  vocal,  and  is  cajiable  of  imitating  with 
I'x.K  tness,  both  in  measure  and  accent,  the  notes  of  all  the 
fcithcred  race.  And  hcjwever  wild  and  discordant  the  tones 
and  calls  may  be,  he  contrives,  with  an  Orpluan  talent  pecai- 
li.irl\  his  own,  to  infuse  into  them  that  sweetness  of  exjiression 
;uiil  harmonious  modulation  which  characteri/,e  this  inimi- 
taliK-  and  wonderful  composer.  With  the  ilawn  of  morning, 
wliili'  yet  the  sun  lingers  below  the  blushing  horizon,  our  sub- 
linu'  songster,  in  his  native  wilds,  mounted  on  the  topmost 
hrani  h  of  a  tall  bush  or  tree  in  the  forest,  pours  out  his  adnii- 
rililc  song,  which,  amidst  the  multitud''  of  notes  from  all  the 
wiriiling  host,  still  rises  pre-eminent,  so  that  his  solo  is  heard 
aliine,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  musical  choir  apjiear  lanployed  in 
mere  accompaniments  to  this  grand  actor  in  the  snl)lime  opt'ra 
iif  Nature.  Nor  is  his  tah'Ut  confined  to  imitation  ;  his  nali\e 
notes  are  also  bold,  full,  and  j)er])etually  varied,  consisting  of 
shnrt  expressions  of  a  few  variable  syllables,  inter>persed  with 
iniii,  lions  and  uttered  with  great  eni[)hasis  and  volubility, 
siMiii  limes  for  half  an  hour  at  a  time,  with  undiminished  ardor. 
files, ■  native  strains  bear  a  considerable  resemblance  to  those 


190 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


of  the  Drown  Thrush,  to  whom  he  is  so  nearly  related  hi  form, 
habits,  and  manners ;  but,  like  rude  from  cultivated  genius,  his 
notes  are  distinguished  by  the  rapidity  of  their  delivery,  iluir 
variety,  sweetness,  and  energy.     As  if  conscious  of  his  unri- 
valled powers  of  song,  and  animated  by  the  harmony  of  his 
own  voice,  his  music  is,  as  it  were,  accompanied  by  chroniaiic 
dancing  antl  expressive  gestures ;    he  spreads  and  closes  his 
light  and  fanning  wings,   expands  his  silvered  tail,  and  with 
buoyant  gayety  and  enthusiastic  ecstasy  he  sweeps  around,  and 
mounts  and  ilescends  into  the  air  from  his  lofty  spray  as  his 
song   swells   to    loudness    or   dies  away  in   sinking  whi>|nrs. 
While  thus  engaged,  s(j  various  is  his  talent  that  it  might  be 
supposed  a  trial  of  skill  from  all  the  assembled  birds  ot"  tlie 
country ;    and    so    perfect    are    his   imitations  that   even   the 
sportsman  is  at  times  deceived,  and  sent  in  (piest  of  birds  that 
have  no  existence  around  him.     The  feathered  tribes  ihciii- 
selves  are  decoyed  by  the  fuicied  call  of  their  mates,  or  dive 
with  fear  into  the  close   thicket  at  the  well-feigned  scream  of 
the  Hawk. 

Soon  reconciled  to  the  usur])ing  fuicy  of  man,  the  Mix  kmg 
Bird  often  becomes  familiar  with  his  master;  playfully  attacks 
him  through  the  bars  of  his  cage,  or  at  large  in  a  room  ;  rest- 
less and  capricious,  he  seems  to  try  every  ex])edient  of  a  lively 
imagination  that  may  conduce  to  his  amusement.  Nothing 
escapes  his  discerning  and  intelligent  eye  or  faithful  ear.  He 
whistles  perha])s  for  tlie  dog.  who,  deceived,  nms  to  iutlI  his 
master ;  the  cries  of  the  chicken  in  distress  bring  out  tiie 
clucking  mother  to  the  i^rotection  of  her  brood.  The  barkinu' 
of  the  dog,  the  piteous  wailing  of  the  puppy,  the  mewiiiu'  uf 
the  cat.  the  action  of  a  saw,  or  the  creaking  of  a  wheelbairow, 
quickly  follow  with  exactness.  He  repeats  a  tune  of  consider- 
able length  ;  imitates  the  warbling  of  the  Canary,  the  li>])ing 
of  the  Indigo  I'.ird,  and  the  mellow  whistle  of  the  Cardinah  in 
a  manner  so  su])erior  to  tlie  originals  that,  mortified  and  a>ti^n- 
ished,  they  withdraw  from  his  presence,  or  liste'i  in  sileiii  e  as 
he  continues  to  triimiph  by  renewing  his  efforts. 

In  the  cage  also,  nearly  as  in  the  woods,  he  i.  full  of  lifi  and 
action  while  engaged  in  song,  throwing  himself  roimd  wiiii  in- 


form, 

.IS,  his 
,  lluir 
i  unri- 
of  his 
omiilic 
scs  his 
(1  wilh 
1(1,  and 
y  as  his 
hisinTs, 
itrhl  be 
s  ut"  Uie 
:cn   ilie 
T(l>  that 
s  iliem- 
,  or  (live 
::rt'ani  of 


MOCKING   BIRD. 


191 


r,inring  animation,  and,  as  it  were,  moving  in  time  to  the  melody 
of  his  own  accents.  Even  the  hours  of  night,  which  consign 
nearly  all  other  birds  to  rest  and  silence,  like  the  Nightingale 
he  oft  eniphjys  in  song,  serenading  the  hc/aseless  hunter  and 
>iknt  cottager  to  repose,  as  the  rising  moon  illumines  the 
ilaikness  of  the  shadowy  scene.  His  capricious  fondness  for 
coiurast  and  perpetual  variety  appears  to  deteriorate  his  pow- 
(.rs.  His  imitations  of  the  Brown  Thrush  are  perhaps  inter- 
rupted by  the  crowing  of  the  cock  or  the  barking  of  the  dog; 
the  plaintive  warblings  o{  the  Bluebird  are  then  blended  wilh 
the  chatter  of  the  Swallow  or  the  cackling  of  the  hen  ;  amid 
the  simple  lay  of  the  native  Robin  we  are  surprised  with  the 
vol  iferations  of  the  Whip-poor-will ;  while  the  notes  of  the 
garrulous  Jay,  Wren,  and  many  others  sticceed  with  such  an 
npi>e,irance  of  reality  that  we  almost  imagine  ourselves  in  the 
preseiiee  of  the  originals,  and  can  scarcely  realize  the  fact  that 
the  whole  of  this  singular  concert  is  the  effort  of  a  single 
bin!.  Indeed,  it  is  imjjossible  to  listen  to  these  (Jr])hean 
strains,  when  delivered  by  a  superior  songster  in  his  native 
wniiU,  without  being  deeply  affected  and  almost  riveted  to 
the  spot  by  the  complicated  feelings  of  wonder  and  delight 
in  which,  from  the  graceful  and  sym/athetic  action,  as  well  as 
eiichaming  voice  of  the  performer,  the  eye  is  no  less  gratified 
than  the  ear.  It  is,  however,  painful  to  rellect  that  these  ex- 
traonlinary  powers  of  nature,  exercised  with  so  much  generous 
freedom  in  a  state  of  confinement,  are  not  calculated  for  l(jng 
endurance,  and  after  this  most  wonderful  and  interesting  pris- 
oner has  survived  for  6  or  7  years,  blindness  often  terminates 
his  i^ay  career ;  and  thus  shut  out  from  the  cheering  light,  the 
si>lare  of  his  lonely  but  active  existence,  he  now  after  a  time 
dro(j[is  in  silent  sadness  and  dies. 


lif.  and 
wiiii  in- 


The  Mocking  15ird  is  a  rare  but  regular  summer  visitor  to  Rhode 
■dand,  Connecticut,  and  soutliern  Massachusetts,  and  examples 
luue  been  taken  in  Maine.  Mr.  Mellwraitli  rej^orts  that  a  i)air 
>PL'nt  the  summer  of  1X83  near  Hamilton.  Ontario,  and  C.  A. 
McLennan  records  in  the  O.  &  O.  the  (apturc  of  one  near  Truro, 
^'-  S      The  species  is  chiefly  restricted  to  the  Southern  States. 


OS 


BROWN  thrashi:r. 

BROWN    THRUSH. 
HaRI'c  )KHVN'CHUS  rufus. 

Char.  Above,  bright  reddish  brown  or  rufous  ;  beneath,  white,  tingcil 
with  rufous  or  buff;  breast  aiul  side  spotted  with  Ijrown ;  bill  about  as 
long  as  the  heail.     Length  lO/i  to  12  inches. 

A'est.  In  a  thicket  or  low  bush,  and  sometimes  on  the  ground;  bii'kv, 
and  looselv  constructed  of  twigs,  roots,  and  dried  grass,  sumctimts  lined 
with  horse-hair  or  feathers. 

Egi;s.  3-6  (usually  4) ;  dull  white  with  IjufTor  green  lint,  marked  with 
minute  spots  of  reddish  brown  ;   i.oo  X  0.80. 

'I'his  larG:e  and  well-known  songster,  inferior  to  none  but  the 
Mocking  liird  in  musical  talent,  is  found  in  every  part  oftlii^ 
continent,  from  Iltidscjn's  liay  to  the  shores  of  the  Mexican 
( "lulf,  breeding  in  all  the  intermediate  space,  though  more 
abundantly  towards  the  North.  It  retires  to  the  South  cnrlv  in 
October,  in  the  States  north  of  the  Carolinas,  and  probalih  ex- 
tends its  migrations  at  this  season  through  the  warmer  rt^'ions 
towards  the  borders  of  the  tropics. 

From  the  15  th  of  April  to  early  in  May  these  birds  begin  to 
revisit  the  Middle  and  Northern  States,  keeping  pace  ii^  some 
measure  with  the  progress  of  vegetation  and  the  comp;irative 


BROWy  THRASHER. 


'<lv^"^cement  of  the  season.     They  ^nn  ,  '^' 

I-ns,  so  that  their  mutual  atta<■hn4u'^n^'';?■^  '^  ^'^"^^  '" 
''^-'---nori„euhation:'S:r:     -^^ 


il'^m  ilie  season  of  incubation      T-     '?"^''-  "'""^  '>»rMo 

>:'«  -d,ard  or  fore.,,  tree    h    ,„,t  """^■'  ?  "'•-•  "'1'  "^  -m 

'-  ■"-"  "fLis  arrival  .iti,  his  o    i  ZT  """"""'  -'"'« 

^•,  .^on,e«I,at  resen,l,ii„,,  that  oth     ,/'?'"'■'  "'"«■     "" 
rlnr.=  ,■  ..-;...|   ,__  .  ^   ^"ai  OI  tile   I  hrilsh  /.f  I.- 


"""■  "'  •""  •"■nvai  «i,h  his  loud  an  I  ,7  •*"""-■'".  *'l"tc-s 
;■ '"  ^■'  *"«"■''«  asentUin,,  that  ofth  I.  "?'"*•'  *"«•  "'- 
"'■  '""f  ""-'  -"I  l»>vern,l,  e/  'f™^''  "'"""'I-'  1- 
> ' "  ''  '*""  of  the  forest.  Hi  mu  ,'."'""  "■"'''"  ^"  'he 
;;■■>■  ,""8i->i')-  Ik-  takes  :  T,  "  '"^  '^';  f"" -harm  „f  ,„. 
""-'"'-  no  title  to  the  name  o,  t  L  ",',""'' '■^•'■'  ^""  »>■•>' 
^'W-n,„ec  he  falters  in  hi.  s^  ,      k   tf    v''     ""  '"^  ""' 

;;";."  ^'"  ">-'  "gor  an,l  var   ;;;:""'   '''"«.  ''-   notes 
"'•;  'nst  season,  in  a  state  of  ,oli,  „       "  •""""«  '''^'h  even  of 
-I  "f  the  parent's  voice,  aire"     l!    ""'!!'^""""' ""hont  the 
;-[>■  "-  P..'l.ctic  an.l  ;>vee"    „.,,'::"  '"""  '"  "-".on.ous 
'"  "'e  month  of  M.,y,  while  th     iV"'' '"""• 'I'" '«• 
-;'l   ;lecorate   the   lankscape      ,0   en",""°  ""'''^■'' '■"f""''' 
"""  -  in  his  afl-ectionat   '■:««"'"""  '"''-■  "'  •"= 
■'";■■>'"  the   bonmv  and   teen  in.™   /°^"'  S"""''"' ""^f- 

* ;;;  --.n,  .ison  ..h  tiri,:::::,;-;;- ». 

;'"•  ^' '"»■,  thic,  h,th, :::  :.-;;'s  «'t  .h,s  „nr„o.,e  „::! 

'"'  fron>  the  e.arth,  and  .sonK-Z"  l         *' "  "™"'' •' f--- 
"»..e  sheltered  tussnrk   or  ne  r  '""  ""   ""=  g™""l   in 

i;'»[  "-   n,ost  ardent'   *    i,  '  for;,."'  '  ''"''■     •'•'"•>•  "- 
^"■■(^'■s>  tlogs,  and  cats  in  their      f  '"'  ''"""^  ^"^'king 

;.:r"-."-  -ale,  seetns  ahn:     ^^;n^'  ".  '^  '™-ts' 
''"'  '"^"nst  any  dangerons  intruder      1^    '  ''"■"'  '"  «■■"•■''''• 

"'""'-■  «  a  considerable  dis      'e   t  ?"  ''""'■>^-'  '"<«■ 

»■ '^  -ho   with  his   plai    K   "    ,  f  ■"  ""■   >"""«■  -'  .he 

e"""n.l,  angry  V,,y,  V,/,  7.7,  '/?  'r^''  '''■""■  ^'"<'  'he  lo„-, 
"»  'i-  "cid,  cotn^only  ,vi  h  ij,  %:"™.y  '^  ""■«  pw^ucj 
'*'"■»  'o  understand  the  threntl       '        '^"'">'  '^""""'i''  -p- 

"■«:  "•"■■'■^  ^he  is  so  inc^;  ^a  :l';"t  '  -1  ^"""■'■'- 

^'"-  I.  —  ,3  ^  ^^ssaued.     Toward.',  their  more 


194 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


insidious  enemies  of  the  human  species,  when  approachinp;  tlic 
helpless  or  untkdged  young,  every  art  is  displayed;  thre;il^, 
entreaties,  and  reproaches  the  most  pathetic  and  powerful,  ;ik 
tried  in  no  etjuivocal  strain;  they  dart  at  the  ravisher  in  wild 
despair,  and  lament,  in  the  most  touching  strains  of  sorrow,  the 
bereavement  they  suffer,  I  know  of  nothing  ecjual  to  the  buiM 
of  grief  manifested  by  these  affectionate  parents  excepting  the 
afflicting  accents  of  suffering  humanity. 

Their  food  consists  of  worms  and  insects  generally;  also 
caterpillars,  beetles,  and  other  coleopterous  tribes,  as  well  ;is 
various  kinds  of  berries.  In  the  mouth  of  January  I  observnl 
this  Thrush  and  the  Mocking  Hird  i\i^:d  on  the  berries  of  the 
sumach.  Sometimes  they  raise  up  a  few  grains  of  plauud 
corn,  but  this  is  more  the  effect  of  caprice  than  appetite,  as 
the  search  for  grubworms  is  what  commonly  induces  ihis 
resort  to  scratching  up  the  soil.  The  Thrasher  is  an  aciiw, 
watchful,  shy,  and  vigorous  species,  generally  flying  low,  (\\\\\- 
ling  among  thickets,  and  skipping  from  bush  to  bush  with  his 
long  tail  sometimes  spread  out  like  a  fan.  About  the  first  wi,  i.  k 
in  October,  after  moulting,  they  disappear  for  the  season  and 
])ass  the  winter  in  the  Southern  States.  Ijy  the  middle  ^i 
February,  or  early  in  March,  they  already  display  tlieir  vmil 
powers  in  the  warmer  parts  of  Georgia  and  West  Florida. 
They  are  easily  reared,  and  become  very  familiar  and  amu>iiii,' 
companions,  showing  a  strong  attachment  to  the  hand  that 
feeds  and  protects  them.  In  their  manners,  intelligence,  soul;, 
and  sagacity,  they  nearly  approach  to  the  Mocking  F.ird,  btiiig 
equally  playful,  capricious,  petulant,  and  affectionate. 

The  Thrasher  is  abundant  in  Massachusetts,  and  is  found  in  \'(r- 
mont  and  New  Hampshire,  but  near  the  Atlantic  sealK)ard  ddis 
not  go  farther  north  than  southern  Maine.  It  occurs  regularlv  m 
the  vicinity  of  Montreal,  and  is  common  in  Ontario  and  Manitoba. 
It  winters  from  about  37°  southward. 


CAT/JIKD. 


^95 


'  fercui ;  0.95  X  0.70. 
^'^'■^  quaint  and  famiii,,.  son... 
-"^  --n  extremities  of  thj  l"^7 V^'^'''  '''  ^^''"^^^  i"  the 
;;^  ^^-ico,   .hence  a.  eaH^rt^;;;^^  "^''  ^"°"^  ^'-  -a 
•;'•     :^'^'>"t    the    nii.Idle    J  ^:,ri^T  Z''  ''"'''^'^  '^  ^•-or- 
''^'^^'^^i^.  ^md  at  kjvrfh  I..;        /^         '^  '•'  ^'■^t  seen    in    P 

"'"''  '"  May.     rhc^^  w   1  '  '>egnininir  of  the  .,.       T 

'■"'  t.ll  alwut  the  mi.Mi,  Jf  "'  »■     '  '"'y  rt- main  i„  x,„. ,, 
f-:;  Pnncip,,,,  „„„„  „.,,„  ;  '^^-"er.  a.  whic,  ,„,,  .He  ,,,„*, 

'■^■•^•>-.  '-".-ping  <t:r :,:  r  ,:;t'^"v-"^^  '"-f"-  *e  ,>.., 

'*;■'  prey,  while  vet  scarce  V  dK       "■"  '  ''"''  ''«"''y  •'•fe'r 
:;"M»s.s  is  scarcclv  at  ill  1' r  '""'■'  '"  »«-«'lnes,  ^,,,1 

;;?•''".''■>•'». -given,  hi;;: ;,:' ""'  '"^'""^■"  "---.> 

"'I  >".«,.  of  tone,  a„,l    lire  h      v-^^f "  """''-'^i-^.  "H-lo.!.- 
;:'"  "f-Po-.     In  the',     'n„i;V'"  '"'"'''■'   ""■■^'■'"«  '"e 


196 


SINGING   IJIRDS. 


During  the  heat  of  the  day,  or  late  in  the  morning,  the  variety 
of  his  song  declines,  or  he  pursues  his  employment  in  silence 
and  retirement. 

About  the  2  5lh  of  May  one  of  these  familiar  birds  came  into 
the  llotanic  (larden  antl  took  uj)  his  summer  abode  with  us. 
Soon  after  his  arrival  he  called  up  in  low  whisjierings  the  notis 
of  the  Whip-poor-will,  the  Redbird,  \\\Kt  pcto  pcto  of  the  TuftKl 
Titmouse,  and  other  imitations  of  Southern  birds  which  he  had 
collected  on  his  leisurely  route  from  the  South.  He  also  si  ion 
mocked  the  ^ tshc-yiih  Ushe-yah  of  the  little  Acadian  Flycatc  h- 
ers,  with  which  the  neighborhood  now  abounded.  He  fre- 
f[uently  answered  to  my  whistle  in  the  garden,  was  very  silent 
during  the  period  of  incubation,  and  ex])ressed  great  anxieiv 
and  com])laint  on  my  approaching  the  young  after  their  lea\iiig 
the  nest. 

r)ne  of  the  most  remarkable  i)ropensities  of  the  Catbird,  and 
to  which  it  owes  its  name,  is  the  unjjleasant,  loud,  and  gratiiiL; 
cat-like  mew  Cpoy,  'pay,  'pFry)  which  it  often  utters  on  bt'iiig 
approached  or  offended.  As  the  irritation  increases,  this  note 
becomes  more  hoarse,  reiterated,  and  vehement ;  and  soine- 
times  this  petulance  and  anger  are  carried  so  far  as  to  per- 
secute every  intruder  who  ap]iroaches  the  premises.  'Ibis 
temper  often  prevails  after  the  young  are  (ledged  ;  and  though 
originating  no  doubt  in  jtarental  anxiety,  it  sometimes  apj)iars 
to  outlive  that  season,  and  occasionally  becomes  such  an  an- 
noyance that  a  revengeful  and  fatal  blow  from  a  stick  or  stone 
is  but  too  often,  with  the  thoughtless  and  prejudiced,  the  re- 
ward of  this  harmless  and  capricious  provocation.  At  such 
times,  with  little  a])parent  cause,  the  agitation  of  the  bird  is 
excessive  ;  she  hurries  backward  and  forward  with  hanging 
wings  and  open  mouth,  mewing  and  screaming  in  a  paroxysm 
of  scolding  anger,  and  alighting  almost  to  peck  the  very  hand 
that  offers  the  insult.  To  touch  a  twig  or  branch  in  any  [lart 
of  the  garden  or  wood  is  often  amply  sufificient  to  call  (Imvn 
the  amusing  termagant.  This  harmless  excess,  and  simulaUon 
of  grimalkin's  tone,  —  that  wizard  animal  so  much  disliked  by 
many,  — are  unfortunate  associations  in  the  cry  of  the  CaAnrd; 


i 


CATIJIRU. 


•97 


irit'ty 
k'nco 

e  into 

ilh  us. 
notes 
rufted 
At.'  had 

0  soon 
y-catch- 
ic   frc- 
y  silent 
anxiety 
leaving 

)ird,and 

1  gratini; 
)!!  bein;4 
this  nolo 
ul  some- 
|s  to  v^''" 

s.     'l"hi^ 
(\  thou'^h 
i  appears 
h  an  an- 
or  sione 
1,  the  rc- 
At   sneh 
bird  is 
hani;ing 
)aro\ysm 
■cry  hand 
any  I'^^r^ 
all  d-  Avn 
u-nul.iKin 
sliked  hy 
C^?/V'.rd; 


anil  thus,  coupled  with  an  ill  name,  this  delightful  and  familiar 
soni^'ster,  who  seeks  out  the  very  society  of  man  and  reposes 
nn  unmerited  ronfidence  in  his  protection,  is  treated  with  un- 
deserved oblo(|uy  and  contempt.  The  flight  of  tiie  Catbird  is 
laborious,  and  usually  continued  only  from  bush  to  bush  ;  his 
progress,  however,  is  very  wily,  and  his  attitudes  and  jerks 
amusingly  capricious.  lie  appears  to  have  very  little  fear  of 
enemies,  often  descends  to  the  ground  in  quest  of  insects,  and 
though  almost  familiar,  is  very  (juick  in  his  retreat  from  real 
danger. 

The  food  of  the  Catbird  is  similar  to  that  of  the  preceding 
spei  ies,  being  insects  and  worms,  particularly  beetles,  and  va- 
rious garden  fruits;  feeding  his  young  often  on  cherries  and 
various  kinds  of  berries.  Sometimes  these  birds  are  observed 
to  attack  snakes  when  they  approach  the  vicinity  of  the  nest, 
and  commonly  succeed  in  driving  off  the  enemy;  when  bitten, 
however,  by  the  poisonous  kinds,  it  is  probable,  as  related, 
that  they  may  act  in  such  a  manner  as  to  appear  laboring 
undiT  the  influence  of  fliscination.  'i'he  C'atbird,  when  raised 
from  the  nest,  is  easily  domesticated,  becomes  a  very  amusing 
inmate,  and  seems  attached  to  his  cage,  as  to  a  dwelling  or 
]ila(  e  of  security.  About  ilawn  of  day,  if  at  large,  he  flirts 
ahout  with  affected  wildness,  repeatedly  jerks  his  tail  and 
wings  with  the  noise  almost  of  a  whip,  and  stretching  forth  his 
htad.  opens  his  mouth  and  mews.  Sometimes  this  curious 
cry  is  so  guttural  as  to  be  uttered  without  opening  the  bill.  He 
uttrii  also  gives  a  squeal  as  he  flies  from  one  place  to  another, 
anil  is  very  tame,  though  pugnacious  to  all  other  birds  which 
apijroach  him  for  injury.  When  wanting  food,  he  stirs  round 
with  great  uneasiness,  jerks  everything  about  within  his  reach, 
and  utters  the  feeble  cry  of  the  caged  Mocking  llird.  A  very 
amusing  individual,  which  I  now  describe,  began  his  vocal 
linwers  by  imitating  the  sweet  and  low  warble  of  the  Song 
Sparrow,  as  given  in  the  autumn;  and  from  his  love  of  imita- 
tion on  other  occasions,  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  he  pos- 
sesses no  original  note  of  his  own.  but  acquires  and  modulates 
the  songs  of  other  birds.     lake  the  Robin,  he  is  exceedingly 


I9« 


SINGIXU   BIRDS. 


fond  of  washing,  and  dashes  about  in  the  water  till  every 
featlier  appears  drenc  hcd  ;  he  also,  at  tinu-s.  basks  in  iIk- 
gravel  in  fine  weather.  His  food,  in  confinement,  is  almo-^t 
everything  vegetable  exeej)t  unbniised  si'i'ds, — as  bread,  fine 
pastry,  cakes,  scalded  cornnieal.  fruits,  i)articularly  those  which 
are  juicy,  and  now  and  then  insects  and  minceil  Hesh. 

The  Catbird  occurs  regularly  aloiiu  the  Aniiai)()lis  valley  in 
Nova  Scotia,  and  in  New  IJrunswick  between  tlie  Maine  l)onkr 
;ui(l  tlie  valley  of  the  St.  John,  but  it  is  rarely  seen  elsewliere  in  llie 
.Maritime  i'rovinces.  It  is  fairly  loniniou  near  the  city  of  Quebec, 
and  abundant  about  Montreal  and  in  Ontario. 


ROlilN. 

Mr,RLi,.\  mi(;kai()KI.\. 

Char.  Above,  nlivc  gray;  head  and  neck  darker,  snmetinies  black; 
wings  and  tail  duskv  ;  ontcr  tail-feathers  bmadly  tipped  with  white;  be- 
neath, brownish  red;  throat  white  with  dark  streaks;  under  tail-covorts 
white;  bill  yellow.     Length  9  to  10  inches. 

A'fsf.  Usually  in  a  tree,  but  often  on  fence-rail  or  windowlcdgi.'  ni 
house  or  barn;  a  bulky  but  compact  structure  of  grass,  twigs,  etc., 
cemented  with  mud. 

■/'-'.vs'*"-     4-5;  greenish  blue  (occasionally  speckled) ;   1.15  X  o.So. 

The  familiar  and  welcome  Robins  are  fotnid  in  snmmcr 
throughout  the  North  American  continent  from  the  desol.ite 
regions  of  Hudson's  IJay,  in  the  5-^d  degree,  to  the  tableland 
of  Mexico.  In  all  this  vast  space  the  American  P'ieldfares  re.ir 
their  young,  avoiding  only  the  warmer  maritime  districts,  lo 
which,  however,  thry  flock  for  support  during  the  inclenuiK  y 
of  winter.  The  Robins  have  no  fixed  time  for  migration,  nor 
any  particular  rendezvous  ;  they  retire  from  the  higher  lati- 
tudes only  as  their  food  begins  to  fail,  and  so  leisurely  and 
desultory  are  their  movements  that  they  make  their  appear- 
ance in  straggling  parties  even  in  Massachusetts,  feeding  on 
winter  berries  till  driven  to  the  South  by  deep  and  inundating 
snows.  At  this  season  they  swarm  in  the  Southern  Staus, 
though  they  never  move  in  large  bodies.     I'hc  holly,  prinos, 


Ronix. 


199 


every 

ill    llu' 

(1,  fine 
which 

lUcy    in 

bonli  I' 

c  in  ihe 

[Quebec, 


ics  bbrk; 
,vhitc  :  l)c- 
;iil-c(ncvts 

iv-lcdiii.'  'if 
^vigs,  cic, 


siimach.  sniilnx,  randleberry  myrtle,  and  the  Virninian  juniper 
iiiiw  aiiord  them  an  ample  repast  in  the  winter,  in  the  absence 
ol  the  more  juicy  berries  of  autumn,  and  the  insects  and 
ucnns  of  the  milder  season,  liven  in  the  vicinity  of  Pmston 
lloi  ks  of  Robins  are  seen,  in  certain  seasons,  assemblint,'  round 
u\^vn  springs  in  the  depth  of  winter,  having  arrive<l  probably 
frum  the  colder  interior  of  the  Stale  ;  and  in  those  situations  they 
are  conseipiently  often  tra]iped  and  killed  in  great  numbers. 

Towards  the  close  of  Jaiuiary  in  South  Carolina  the  Rcjbln 
at  intervals  still  tuned  his  song  ;  and  about  the  second  week  of 
M  in  h,  in  the  Middle  Slates,  before  the  snows  of  winter  have 
will  illy  disajipeared,  a  few  desultory  notes  are  already  gi\en. 
As  soon  as  the  loth  of  this  month  they  may  at  times  also  be 
luinl  in  this  ])art  of  New  ICngland.  Marly  in  A]iril,  however, 
at  the  close  of  the  jealous  contests,  which  are  wage<l  with  ob- 
stinacy, they  are  only  seen  in  i)airs ;  and  now  from  the  orchard 
or  the  edge  of  the  forest,  deliver  their  simpU",  thrilling  la\s  in 
all  the  artless  energy  of  true  affection.  This  earnest  song  re- 
calls to  mind  the  mellow  whistle  of  the  Thrush,  which  in  the 
chirming  month  of  May  so  sweetly  rises  in  warbling  echoes 
t'lMin  the  low  copse  and  shady  glen.  ( )ur  American  bird  has 
lint,  however,  the  compass  and  variety  of  tiiat  familiar  and 
niu' h-Ioved  songster;  but  his  freedom  and  willingness  to 
please,  render  him  an  universal  favorite,  and  he  now  comes, 
n^  it  were,  with  the  welcome  prelude  to  the  general  concert 
.'iImuI  to  burst  upon  us  from  all  the  green  woods  and  blooming 
orchards.  \\'ith  this  pleasing  association  with  the  ojiening 
season,  atuidst  the  fragrance  of  flowers  and  the  im])n)ving  ver- 
dure of  the  fields,  we  listen  with  peculiar  pleasure  to  the  sim- 
ple song  of  the  Robin.  The  confidence  he  reposes  in  us  by 
making  his  abotle  in  our  gardens  and  orchards,  the  frankness 
and  innocence  of  his  manners,  besides  his  vocal  powers  to 
plci-ic,  inspire  res])ect  and  attachment  even  in  the  truant 
scliDdl-lioy,  and  his  exposed  nest  is  but  rarely  m()le>ted.  lie 
uwe^.  however,  this  immunity  in  no  small  degree  to  the  lortu- 
nate  name  which  he  bears;  as  the  favorite  Robin  Redbreast, 
said  to  have  covered  with  a  Icafv  shroud  the  lo>t  and  wander- 


200 


SINT.IN'G   IlIKDS. 


in:;  "  h.ibcs  in  the  woods,"  is  lit-Id  in  universal  respect  in  every 
part  of  luiropi-.  where  he  is  known  by  endearing  n;unes,  and  v) 
finiiUar  in  winli-r  that  he  sometimes  taps  at  the  window  (ir 
enters  the  iiouse  in  search  of  crumbs,  and  Uke  the  domestic 
fowls,  claims  his  welcome  |)itlance  at  the  firmer's  door. 

'i'iie  nest  of  this  species  is  often  on  the  hori/tiiUal  l;rancii  of 
an  apple-tree,  or  in  a  btish  or  tree  in  the  woods,  and  so  lar:,'f 
as  to  be  scarcely  evi'r  wholly  ccjiicealed.     'i'he  parents  show 
great  affection,  courage,  and   anxiety    for  the  safety  of  their 
yoimg.  keeping  up  a  noisy  cackling  chirp  when  the  phu  c  is 
appro, uhfd,  sometimes  even  boldly   pe(  king  at  the  hand  or 
flying  in  the  face  of  the  intruder;  and  they  have  often  seriinis 
contests  with  the  i)iratical  ("uckoo,  who  slyly  watches  the  ab- 
sence of  the  parents  to  devour  their  eggs.     To  avoid  these 
visits  an<l  the  attacks  of  other  enemies,  the  Robin  has  br.-n 
known  to  build  his  nest  within  a  few  yards  of  the  blacksmiili's 
anvil;  an<l  in  Portsmouth  (New  Hampshire)  one  was  seen  to 
employ  for  the  same  purpose  the  stern  limbers  of  an  unfin- 
ished vcnsci,  in  which  the  car])enters  were  constantly  at  work, 
the  binl  a|)pe;iring  by  this  adventurous  association  as  if  <  on 
scions  of  the  protection  of  so  singular  and  bokl  a  situation.     ! 
have  also  seen  a  nest  of  the  Robin  bottomed  with  a  mass  of 
pine  shavings  taken  without  alarm  from  the  bench  of  the  >  ir- 
penter.     From  the  petulant  and  reiterated  chirp  so  comni";ily 
utttTi-d  by  the  Robin  when  surprised  or  irritated,  the  Indium 
of  Hudson's  Hay  call  him,  from  this  note,  Pcc-pi'c-tshii.     'I'luy 
oftiii  also  utter  a  loud  echoing  'kh  'kh  'kh,  and  someiinv.^ 
chirp  in  a  high  or  slender  tone  when  alarmed,  and  witii   in 
affe<tation  of  anger  sharply  flirt  the  tail  and  ends  of  the  win_'v 
'I'hey  raise  several  broods  in  a  season,  and  considerable  ni:' 
bers  flock  together  in  the  latter  end  of  summer  and   nut': 
When  feeding  on  cherries,  ])oke,  sassafras,  and  so' 
ries,  they  are  so  intent  as  to  be  easily  approach'        u<l 
down  in  numbers;  and  when  fat  are  justly  esteemt  !  for  f"" 
and  often  brought  to  market.     In  the  sjjring  they  frequc    '■ 
descend  to  the  groimd  in  quest  of  worms  and  insects,  \s\ 
then  constitiue  their  principal  support. 


Ronix. 


201 


in  every 

.  ;inil  vj 
idow  or 
Icjincslic 

nmrh  of 
so  laru"' 
nts  ^'h'tw 
of  tlKir 
place  IS 
haivl  iir 
in  serious 
s  the  ah- 
Old  these 
has  U<n 
acksmiiii's 
ras  seen  lu 
■  an  uni'iii- 
y  at  w'lik, 
as  if  <"" 
nation.     ! 
a  ma>-  "i 
of  the  '  ir- 
comnv'iily 
be  Imlians 

Isomcii'iv- 

(1  witii   ■•' 

[the  wi'i-- 

ible  nur 


They  are  commonly  brought  up  in  the  rage,  ami  seem  very 
i()(  ile  ami  content.  'I'hey  sing  well,  readily  le  irn  to  imitate 
lively  parts  of  times,  and  some  have  been  taught  to  pipe  iotth 
psalms  t\en  to  so  dull  and  solemn  a  measure  as  that  of"  (>/,/ 
////y/(//V(/"  .'  'I'lu'y  a(i|uire  also  a  considerable  taste  for  mim- 
ii  kry,  imitating  the  notes  of  most  of  the  birds  around  them, 
smh  as  the  Uluebird,  I'ewee,  Whip-poor-will,  and  otlu'rs.  ( )n 
Iking  ;.|»proached  with  the  finger,  they  usually  maki'  some 
hliow  of  anger  by  crai-.king  and  snapping  the  bill.  At  times 
tli>\  become  very  tame,  and  will  go  in  and  out  of  the  house 
with  domestic  confidence,  feel  uneasy  when  left  alone,  and  on 
siK  h  occasions  have  sometimes  the  sagacity  of  calling  attention 
by  articulating  endearing  words,  as // v//r, //v7/r,  etc.,  connec- 
tin.u,  a])parently  with  these  expressions,  their  general  import  of 
attentive  blandishment.  They  become  almost  naked  in  the 
moulting  season,  in  which  they  appear  to  suffer  consideraI)ly, 
yet  have  been  known  to  survive  tV)r  1 7  years  or  upwards,  'i'he 
nitoMs  color  of  the  breast  becomes  deepir  in  those  birds  wlii(  h 
thus  live  in  confinement.  'I'heir  principal  song  is  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  commences  before  sunrise,  at  which  time  it  is  \ery 
liiml,  full,  and  emphatic. 

'I'lie  eastern  form  of  this  species  is  not  found  westward  of  the 
r"/ri;it  Plains  excepting  in  the  far  North,  where  it  has  been  traced 
tn  ilir  N'ukon  district  of  Alaska.  From  the  eastern  base  of  the 
Rockies  to  the  Pacific  it  is  replaced  \^\  propiiujua.  a  larger,  grayer 
variety. 

!  have  seen  large  flocks  of  Robins  in   Xew   lirunswiek  during 

sniiir  winters,  and  everv  year  they  are  more  or  less  eoinmon  during 

the  (1)1(1  months.     These  winter  birds  have  nnicli  more  white  on 

their  under  parts  than  is  seen  on  specimens  taken  in  the  summer, 

'■'  '    heir  entire  plumage  is  hoary.    They  doul)tIess  spend  the  sum- 

tTni(  h   farther   north,  —  [jroliably  on   the   l)arren   lands   whi(  li 

'••r  tlie  Arrtic  Ocean,     -  and  are  but  the  nortliernmost  edge  of 

Imid  of  Robins  which  every  autumn  rises  from  their  breedinic- 

• :  (Is  and  sails  away  soutliward  until,  when  if  has  tiiially  settled, 
its  i;istern  margin  is  found  stretclud  from  theCiulfof  St.  Lawnaice 
to  the  West  Indies.  Throughout  this  range,  embraeing  as  it  does 
ni;uiy  variatioi-  of  climate,  Robins  may  be  found  in  suital)le  local- 
ities during  «  \  winter.  —  rather  rare,  sometimes,  at  the  north, 
but  increasin;        abundance  towards  the  South. 


202 


SINGING   HIRDS. 


The  habit  of  this  species  of  assembling  in  large  communiiii^  lo 
roost  at  night,  during  the  summer  months,  was  unknown  to  natnr- 
alists  until  a  few  years  ago,  and  no  mention  of  this  liabit  api).,irid 
in  print  until  October,  1S90,  when  detailed  accounts  of  several 
"roosts"  that  had  I)een  discovered  in  the  vicinity  of  lioston  were 
published  in  the  "Atlantic  .Monthly"  and  "The  Auk."  Tlicy  were 
written  by  Mr.  Bradford  Torrey  and  Mr.  William  Brewster  re- 
spectively. The  "roosts"  are  situated  in  Norton's  Woods,  on 
Beaver  Brook,  Belmont,  in  Longwood.  and  in  Melrose. 

The  Robins  assembling  in  these  places  are  numbered  by 
thousands. 


NoTK.  —  A  few  examples  of  the  \'Aiur.n  Thrttsh  {Hrspcro- 
citlild  nccvia)  have  wandered  from  the  Pacific  coast  to  the  Eastern 
States:  and  tiie  Rf.d-wixged  Tiiuism  (^Tiinius  iliacus)  occasion- 
ally wanders  from  Europe  to  Greenland. 


WOOD   THRUSH. 

TURDUS    MfS'rF.I.IXl'S. 

Char.    Above,  tawnv,  brightest  on  head,  shading  to  olive  on  riniip  nnd 
tail;  beneath,  white  ;  lircast  and  sides  spotted  with  duskv.     J.e 
to  S'4  inches. 


liL't; 


A\-st.     In  a  thicket  or  on  low  branch  of  small  tree, 


usiiallv  in  a  moist 


place  ;  of  grass  ami  leaves  ccinented  with  mud,  lined  with  fine  rnuis. 
Eggs.     3-5;  greenish  blue  ;   1.05X0.75. 

This  solitary  and  rctiritig  songster  during  stiinmcr  iiiliabits 
the  whole  continent  from  Hudson's  l!ay  to  I'lorida  ;  and  ac- 
cording to  my  friend  Mr.  ^\'are,  breeds  as  far  south  as  the 
vicinity  of  Natchez,  in  the  territory  of  Mississippi.  \\\m  tlier 
it  leaves  the  boundaries  of  the  rtiitcd  States  in  the  winter  i- 
not  satisfactorily  ascertained  ;  as  the  species  is  then  silcm,  ami 
always  diffit  tilt  of  access,  its  residence  is  rendered  peculiarly 
dotibtfni.  'i"he  lateness  of  tlie  season  in  wdiich  it  still  liiitrcr^ 
renders  it  probajjle  that  it  may  winter  in  the  Southern  St  Ue\ 
as  a  young  binl,  gleaning  insects  and  berries,  has  been  (  inu'! ' 
in  a  garden  in  lioston  on  the  26th  of  Hctober. 

From  the  southern  parts  of  the  I'nion,  or  wherever  lie-  may 
winter,  the  Wood  Thrtish  arrives  in  the  Middle  States  fmni  the 


WOOD  THRUSH. 


immunitiL^,  to 
own  to  natnr- 
abit  api).ar(d 
ts    oi"   sc\tral 

lioston  wtre 
Tliey  were 

Brewster  re- 
5   Woods,  on 

lumbered    by 


^H  (Ni's/irni- 
n  tlie  J'iastcrn 
uts)  occasion- 


203 


ginning  uf  Mny.  Ae  tlit:  dira  of  '  '  "'''  '■"''"  """  ""•■  ^•^- 
I'i-  |.r«o„ce  in  the  woud.s,  a„d  fronrdr',*  ''""'""  ^'""""">-" 
mmg  through  the-  dark  a,„i  shidv  hZ,  T''  "'  '"'""•'  '^'"  '"■'^' 
cl™r.  and  harn,„„i,„.,s  notes  '|^"''  '"•'  """"■  -'  '•'»  '"v, 
I-  ■!>'■  uuhusia.™  „r  re„„v,;;.d  '.V  t ,'  ""'-r'"^''  "  "'  '"*'-'' 
son.:;  resembles  almost  the  .loubl,.  , ',  '  '""'"''''  '»  '!"» 

;-"  ■■  '"'kiing,  shri,,,  and  sot  ,         r!"'  ^  "'"''  '"™""' 
"  »'""^y  retreat  like  the  dir«e    'f       "'  'r"'""  '""^ 

"; ■■'■^■>>n«yha„„ts„f,ife       H  ,.  IT'"-'  '"'  "'''"'"'  "'■" 

'"   '   1"''^  w  l«irs,    ivhich  '„„:,,     I  ■,■■'"■  ""'"■'"''  "»"^'"y 

f"'"'  '"™''  'os^'ther  in":::'  '"  ,"^''*""'"  '"-.  and 
I'-'-ins  n,ore  nrellow  and  ■  '  """  *°">"'«  """-'"y, 
'"'■■"-■-  -en,  ,:,  .-halle  ge  !"  ^^7  '""•"'"""■  '^"■■'' 
""■  '■'  ■■•"''  '■>-'"S  fi^r  the  fa™  o  teir  '  '  '"""'"  '-^  "' 
->~--".'l  -ftertones..  „d  '  ""'^■■^  "■""  ^.'-l-theti.,. 
""""  "'■  "«-■  "-arm  dispnte  he  '  ,  '"'T^  '  >"''""'  ^"f^'. 

''"'"■  "■"-'  °'l>-  hirds  are  ,1       . T'  '"  ''"*  ■""'  «l"on.y 

^'■'^■^=""'  n,ore  ron.tan,';^,:  ''■"  ""-'  '"'''^''^  >!'>•  ,|,,v.  ,he 
r"'»''-'l--^like,v,ser  ;  Tr  "^  ''-r  and  im.r. 
'"■"■ '  "y  "-■  'nu-eller,  to  n        ,:''■"";  "'"''  '"''-  "^  ■-■lodv 

;;'7*'h-^iicnt,d;.k;  ,   ;:'^\"'"f-"""^ 

;7'=--''M.hrases|„.sJJ~    ,'.'■''''-  "^ilunnit:   l,„t 
'""'■'''''•^''""re,«.a,e,  ;■":■'■• ''^"''' '■■''■ '''I'-l.a^ 

'"'■■-' 'ho*  of  UVK,,,,;,;.'-V'™-'leral,lere,e„;- 
■*■  I'ixh  nnd  shrill.  '      '   ■'"'"'  ■"'''"■*".  H'en  ■,/;  ,-,/„ 

"~  '"•  '»  intent  and  even  soli. 


204 


SINGING   I5IKDS. 


citous  to  remain  concealed.    His  favorite  haunts  are  low,  shaily 
glens  by  watercourses,  often  rendered  dark  with  alder-bushcs, 
mantled  with  the  trailing  grape-vine.      In  quest  of  his  iii>r(  i 
prey,  he  delights  to  follow  the  meanders  of  the  rivulet,  thr(;iii,'h 
whose  leafy   shades  the  sunbeams  steal  only   in  a  t'{:w  inter 
rupted  rays  over  the  sparkling  surface  of  the  running  biouk. 
So  partial  is  this  bird  to  solitude  that  I  have  known  onr  tu 
sing  almost  uniformly  in  the  same  place,  though  nearly  luilfa 
mile  from  his  mate  and  nest.     At  times  indeed  he  would  \(.ii- 
ture  a  few  faltering,  low  notes  in  an  oak  near  his  consort,  but 
his  mellowest  morning  and  evening  warble  was  always  deliv- 
ered from  a  tall  hickory,  overtojjping  a  grove  of  hemlock  firs, 
in  which  the  dimness  of  twiliglit  [jrevailed  even  at  noon.     The 
Wood  Thrush,  like  the  Nightingale,  therefore  feels  inspireil  in 
darkness;  but  instead  of  waiting  for  the  setting  sun,  he  ch()os(.> 
a  retreat  where  the  beams  of  day  can   seldom  enter,      i  licsc 
shady  retreats  have  also  an  additional  attraction  to  our  Thrush ; 
it   is   here  that  the  most  interesting  scene  of  his  instim  live 
labor  begins  and  ends  ;  here  he  first  saw  the  light  and  brc.uhtd 
into  existence  ;  and  here  he  now  bestows  his  nest  in  a  Sciplini: 
oak,  or  in  the  next  thick  laurel  or  blooming  alder,  whose  hcr- 
ries  afford  him  ample  re])ast  in  the  coming  autumn,     llictlo, 
caterpillars,  various  insects,  and  in  autumn,  berries,  consiitutt 
the  i)rincipal  food  of  the  Wood  Thrush.     The  young  remain 
for  weeks  around  gardens  in  quest  of  berries,  and  are  particu- 
larly fond  of  those  of  the  various  species  of  cornel  and  \ibiir- 
num.      At  this  season   they  occasionally  leave  their  fuoritt- 
glens,  and  in  their  devious  wanderings,  previous  to  their  di- 
parture,  sometimes  venture  to  visit  the  rural  suburbs  of  tin 
city.     The  yoimg  are  easily  raised,  and  sing  nearly  as  well  in 
the  cage  as  in  their  native  wilds. 

Nuttall  made  a  mistake  in  giving  to  the  Wood  Thrush  so  ex- 
tended a  range,  and  must  have  confused  this  species  with  the 
Olive-backed,  of  wliieh  he  makes  no  mention.  The  Wood  Thrush 
has  not  been  seen  farther  north  than  Massachusetis,  soitlR-ni 
Ontario,  and  southern  M'cliiiran.  It  nests  soutlnvard  to  ('.'nr.'!.! 
and  westward  to  eastern  Kansas,  and  winters  soulli  to  Guatemala 
and  Cuba. 


HERMIT   TIIKUSll. 


i\v,  >ha'ly 
r-bushcs, 
lis  in^eci 
;,  ihroiigh 
"cw  hULV 
iig  brook. 
vn  oiH'  tu 
irly  li>>li"a 
vcnild  \cn- 
jnsovl.  but 
k-ays  (lellv- 
:mlock  lirs. 
lOon.     'llie 
inspii''-''!  in 
he  chooses 
tcr.     'i'li^'^^' 

;  instinctive 

nd  brcailicil 

in  a  sailing 

whose  l)tr- 
n.  r.et/tl'N 
consiituti- 
[jung  remain 

are  pariicu- 
|l  and  vibiir- 

^eir   favoriu- 

lurbs  of  I'lK 
rly  as  ^vcll  in 

[brush  -Div 
ics  NV''li  \h 

Vood  TliniA 
MS,    sor'.li^'f-' 

(\  to  l'.''f^'"-''-^ 
Gual^m'''"^ 


hf:rmit  thrl^sh. 

SWAMP    KOCIN. 
TURDUS    AONAI.ASCIIK.K    I'AI.LASII. 

CilAR.  Above,  olive,  shading  to  rufous  on  rump  and  tail;  bencatli 
\vh:tc' or  butiish,  shaded  witii  olive  on  sides;  throat  and  breast  spotted 
with  dark  olive.     Length  ojj  to  jlz  inches. 

^\, ./.     On  the  ground,  loosely  made  of  leaves,  grass,  and  moss. 

■^.  .s''*'-    3-5  ;  greenish  blue  ;  0.S5  X  o.Ct^. 

Tiiis  species,  so  much  like  llie  Nightingale  in  color,  is  scarce 
inferior  to  that  celebrated  bird  in  its  powers  of  song,  and 
greatly  exceeds  the  Wood  Thrush  in  the  melody  and  sweetness 
of  its  lay.  It  inhabits  the  United  States  from  tlie  lofty  alpine 
moiintains  of  New  ]Ianii)shire  to  l''lorida.  It  is  also  met  with 
on  the  tableland  of  Mexico  and  in  the  warmer  climate  u\  l!ie 
Antilles.  In  Pennsylvania,  New  Jt-'rsey,  and  New  llngland,  at 
the  (lose  of  atittnnn,  it  a])i)ears  to  migrate  eastward  to  the  sea- 
co.ist  in  quest  of  the  winter  berries  on  which  it  now  feeds  :  in 
spring  and  summer  it  lives  chiefly  on  insects  and  their  lar\\x\ 
and  also  collects  the  surviving  berries  of  the  Mitclwlla  /v/t/a.-. 

I.iki'  the  preceding  species,  it  appears  to  court  solitude,  and 
liv(.s  wholly  in  the  woods.  In  the  Southern  States,  where  it 
inhabits  the  whole  year,  it  freipients  the  dark  and  dcsokite 
shades  of  the  cane  swamps.  In  the>e  almo-t  St\gian  regions, 
\vhi(  h.  l)esides  being  cool,  abound  ])rol)ably  with  its  favorite 
insert  food,  we  are  nearly  stire  to  meet  our  sweetly  vocal 
hermit  flitting  through  the  settled  gloom,  which  the  brightest 
rays  of  noon  scarcely  illumine  with  more  than  twilight.  In  one 
of  siK  h  swamps,  in  the  Choctaw  nation.  Wilson  examined  a 
u^st  of  this  species  wh.i  h  was  fixeil  on  the  horizontal  branch 
of  a  trtc,  formed  with  great  neatness  and  without  using  any 
plastering  of  mud.  The  outside  was  made  of  a  layer  of  coarse 
.urass.  having  the  roots  attached,  and  intermixed  with  horse- 
hair;  the  lining  consisted  of  green  filiform  blades  of  dry  grass 
very  nea'.'y  wound  about  the  interior. 

In  the  Middle  States  these  birds  are  onlv  seen  for  a  few 


mi^^^BB^SBm 


206 


SINGIXG   BIRDS. 


weeks  in  the  spring  and  fall.  They  arrive  in  this  part  of  Now 
Kngland  about  the  loth  of  April,  and  disjJLTse  to  pass  the 
summer  in  the  seclusion  of  the  forest.  They  are  often  seen  on 
the  ground  in  cjuest  of  their  food,  and  freijuent  low  and  tiiu  k 
coi)ses,  into  which  they  commonly  tly  for  concealment  wiun 
too  attentively  observed ;  though  when  in  small  compa\iii,>,  m 
the  spring  season,  they  do  not  appear  very  shy,  but  restless 
from  the  unsettled  state  of  their  circumstances.  Whjn  dis- 
persed, they  utter  a  low,  chirping  call,  and  for  some  iinu 
continue  to  f-.eciuent  the  same  secluded  part  of  the  fiin>t 
in  society.  At  times,  like  the  \\'agtail,  they  keep  this  pan  oi 
their  body  in  a  slow,  vertical  motion.  In  manners  they  stnjii-ly 
resemble  the  following  species,  but  their  song  seenis  to  be 
unusually  lively  and  varied. 

The  Hermit  is  a  common  bird  in  the  Maritime  Provinces  ami 
Quebec,  and  nests  from  about  latitude  44°  northward.  It  is  riiiii- 
mon  on  Antieosti  and  along  the  north  sliore  of  the  (iult  ol  St. 
Lawrence,  and  has  been  taken  at  bake  .Mistassini.  In  Ont.irin  it 
occurs  chietiv  as  a  migrant,  thoui^li  breeding;  in  the  Miiskokii 
district.  In  New  Enu'land  also  it  is  principally  known  ;i>  a 
migrant,  breeiling  in  numbers  only  along  the  northern  border  and 
on  the  higher  !iills  of  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts.  The  nest 
has  been  taken  in  Ohio  and  in  southern  Michigan. 

The  opinions  expressed  by  Nuttall  that  the  Hennit  Thrusli  is  a 
peculiarly  shy  and  solitary  bird,  and  that  its  favorite  resorts  aiv 
amid  the  deep  forests,  are.  I  think,  somewhat  misleading;:  at  l('a>t 
my  observations  in  Xew  Urunswick  led  me  to  form  quite  ditiiit:' 
opinions.  I  did  tind  these  birds  courting  retirement  and  iji!  .:• 
ently  destitute  of  eitlier  vanity  or  curiosity;  but  they  abva\^  d- 
played  a  calm  s  If-po.ssession  tliat  is  inconsistent  with  sIimh-^ 
Nor  were  the\-  pecidiarly  solitary.  b)r  thougli  it  was  unusual  i"  sci 
a  innnber  of  them  in  close  companionship,  it  was  not  unusual  tn 
meet  with  half  a  dozen  in  as  many  minutes,  or  to  tind  as  'naii\ 
nests  within  a  small  area. 

Like  all  woodland  birds,  tliev  prefer  the  groves  to  the  open  lich'v 
and  they  enjoy  a  cool  sh;  ■  in  a  moist  vallev  :  but  they  liuii: 
their  nests  near  the  settlemei.iS,  and  rarelv  go  into  the  densi  r  Imi 
ests.  This  is  their  lia'iit  in  Xew  IJrunswick.  thouyli  of  coiu^si  ulu'. 
farther  north  tliey  must  resort  to  the  timber  districts:  t'lti'  arc 
few  settlements  to  attract  them. 


part  of  New 

to  i)ass  t!u' 
)ftcn  seen  on 
jw  and  liiK  k 
ilment  uIkii 
onipauii,^,  m 

but   rchile.Y'5 

Wlun  (iis- 

■   some   tiiiu; 

f   the    foiv^t 

thih  jxin  of 
they  stnjiigiy 
iccUiS   lo  be 

'rovinces  ami 

1.  It  is  Mi;;:- 
;  (lull  oi  St. 
In  Oiit;iri()  it 
he  IVIiiskdka 
known  a>  a 
n  bonkr  aiu! 

S.       Till-  IK'^t 

:  Thrusli  is  a 
L'  rcsoiis  arc 
in<i^:  at  least 
uite  diflVre:;t 
t  and  api  :.r- 
i  always  (lis- 
fith  shviu'ss 
lusunl  t"  sii 
t  unusual  to 
ind  as  iiiany 

?  oi^cn  llrlds 
t  they  hiiilil 
•  clens(  r  lni- 
coui'sc  ulun 
i :    tiU/iv  arc 


WILSOX'S   THRVm 

'iVKUVs    FL-SCRSClA-s 
Cii\n.    Above    I"  i  ^^»-^^. 

""'  '■■"')■  in  October    .„>,l  -J'         ^^'^'™'  '"  ■•'■"><•  to  ihc 

-^  ^''  ^^  ''^'>'i,  nianv  of 


208 


SINGING    niRDS. 


these  birds  winter  in  lln'  inyrtlc-swamps  of  South  C'arolina.  I 
have  not,  however,  seen  them  in  the  Southern  States  at  tiiai 
season,  and  most  part  of  the  species  pass  on  i)robably  as  far  ;is 
the  coast  of  tlie  Mexican  (julf.  They  do  not,  accfjrdin,:,^  lo 
\\'ilson,  breed  in  the  lower  parts  of  Pennsylvania,  thou,^h  un- 
iloubtedly  they  do  in  the  mountainous  tlistricts,  where  the\  an- 
seen  as  late  as  the  20th  of  May.  'I'hey  propagate  and  are  \cry 
common  in  xMassachusetts. 

In  its  retiring  habits  and  love  of  conceahnent  this  Thrush 
resembles  the  preceding.  It  frecjuents  the  dark  and  shady 
borders  of  small  brooks  and  woods,  and  sometimes  the  bu^ln 
and  retired  parts  of  the  garden;  from  whence,  without  Ixini,' 
often  seen,  in  the  morning  and  particularly  the  evening  U>  llic 
very  ajjproach  of  night,  we  often  hear  the  singular,  quaint,  and 
musical  note  of  this  querulous  species  at  short  intervals,  a-  (nic 
perches  upon  some  low  branch  of  a  tree  or  bush.  Tliis  (  iiriuib 
whistling  note  sounds  like  'rv7///  ^v'lrlni  ''v'rcJni  'v''rchi't,  and 
sometimes  'red  vca  'vnha  ''vrcha  vchi),  running  u])  the  \\i^w>. 
till  they  become  shrill  and  tpiick  at  the  close,  in  the  \\\>\ 
phrase,  but  from  high  to  low,  and  terminating  slender  and 
slow,  in  the  latter;  another  ex])ression  seems  to  be.  'rr'vca 
vehurr,  ascending  like  a  whistle.  'J'he  song  of  another  indi- 
vidual was  expressed  in  the  following  manner:  'vc  'rill  ill '-,ilii'd 
' fiillfill  ''ttillfil.  It  was  then  repeated  with  variation,  Vv  rv////;,.' 
7-imil  riinil :  then  villUlill  rillil/ill,  tullilill  /ii/lili//;  the  wIk.Ic 
agrecablv  and  singularly  delivered  in  a  shrill,  hollow  vmx. 
almost  like  the  sound  of  liquor  passing  through  a  tunnel  iiilu,, 
bottle.  I  have  also  heard  several  of  these  sounds,  souietinii- 
occasionally  prefaced  by  a  mewing  or  chirping  warble.  IIhh 
sounds,  though  monotonous,  are  possessed  of  greater  Nariily 
than  is  at  first  imagined,  the  terminating  tone  or  key  c  hangiiK 
through  several  repetitions,  so  as  to  constitute  a  harmon\  aiii: 
melody  in  some  degree  a])proaching  the  song  of  the  nmri 
musical  Wood  Thrush.  From  this  habit  of  serenadin.L;  int 
the  night,  the  species  is  sometimes  here  dignified  witii  thi 
nickname  of  the  Nightingale.  Occasionally  he  utters  an  Mien 
rather  plaintive  mew,  like  the  Catbird,  or  a  (juivering  \w^'- 


WILSON'S    TIIKLSII. 


209 


rolina.  1 
L-s  at  thai 
y  as  far  a> 
:or(ling  U) 
.hough  un- 
rc  lhc\  .\K 
u\  arc  very 

this  'l'hni>h 
and  shady 
;s  the  hu-^liy 
ithout  hvm 
cning  to  ihc 
,  quaint,  and 
;rvals,  a-  niic 
This  ennuis 
^r'nlii't,  ami 
up  thf  r.ok> 
.  in  tlie   lir^t 
sk'ndcv  anil 

be.  "<"'■  '"'■'' 
another  nidi- 

'ri7/i// ':"'<'•' 


almost  similar  to  that  of  a  laml) ;  ami  when  approached,  watches 
ainl  i(;ll.nvs  the  intruder  with  an  ;ingry  or  petulant  <//n<f/i 
,/,n;i//  ,•  at  other  times  a  sort  of  mewing,  melancholv,  or  com- 
I.Iiming.rVvw  'yVon'  is  heard,  and  then,  i.erhaps,  a'hasty  and 
iin|i.tient/r////.7?/'  follows,  'i'he  food  of  this  species,  at  least 
(lui  1-  the  early  part  of  summer,  ai)i)ears  to  be  shelly  in.sec  ts  i,{ 
vinous  kinds,  particularly  CV/zaww,'/,/.,-,  or  lady-bug.-,,  and  those 
in,ni\  legged  hard  worms  of  the  genus  ////us. 

A  good  while  after  the  commencement  of  the  i)erio<l  of  Jn- 
cuhiliou  [  have  observed  the  males  engaged  in  obstinate  .pi ar- 
rel.>.     On    the   4th  of  Jime,    1830,    I    observed   two   of  the.e 
l.etnlaiit  Thrushes  thus  fiercely  and  jealously  contending;  one 
ui  ihem   used  a   j)laintive   and  angry  tone  as  he  chaseil  his 
antagonist  up  and  down  the  tree.    At  length,  however,  a  cousin 
Cathinl,  to  which  this  species  has  some  affinity,  stepped  in  be- 
t^vixt   thj   combatants,  and  they  soon  parted'.     One   of  these 
liird.  had  a  nest  and  mate  in  the  gooseberrv  bush  ..fa  nei-h- 
hnring  garden  ,;  the  second  bird  was  thus  a  dissatisfied  hermit, 
and  ..pent  many  weeks  in  the  botanic  C;arden,  where,  though 
at  limes  sad  and  solitary,  yet  he  constantly  amused  us  with  l?is 
furlorn  siuig,  and  seemed  at  last,  as  it  were,  acquainted  with 
tho.-,e  who  whistled  for  him,  peeping  out  of  the  bushes  with  a 
sort  (,f  complaisant  curiosity,  and  from  his  almost  nocturnal 
hal.ils  became  a  great  persecutor  of  the  assassin  Owl  whenever 
he  dared  to  make  his  a])j)earance. 

The  nest  of  Wilson's  Thrush  (commenced  about  the  close  of 
tlu'  lirst  week  in  May)  is  usually  in  a  low  and  thornv  bush  in 
ilK'  ,!,irkest  part  of  the  forest,  at  no  great  distance  'from  the 
i-'iound  ^i  to  3  feet),  sometimes  indee<l  on  the  earth,  but 
raided  by  a  bed  of  leaves,  and  greatly  resembles  that  of  the 
Catbird.  This  species  seems,  indeed,  for  securitv  artf:illv  to 
'l^'end  on  the  resemblance  of  itself  and  its  leafv  nest  with'  the 
l;"s>,in  of  the  forest  on  which  it  rests,  and  when' approached  it 
siis  so  close  as  nearly  to  admit  of  being  taken  up  bv  the  hand. 
iHc  nest  sometimes  appears  without  any  shelter  but  shade  and 
association  of  colors  with  the  pi  ue  on  which  it  rests.  I  have 
seen  one  placed  on  a  mass  of  prostrated  dead  brambles,  on  a 

\"i..  I.  —  14  ' 


210 


SIXCILNG   BIRDS. 


fiillcn   heap   of  lilac  twigs  in  a  ravine,  and  also   in  a  smill 
willicrcd  branch  of  red  oak  which  had  fallen  into  a  bush  :   he- 
low  it  was  also  bedded  with  exactly  similar  leaves,  so  as  easily 
to  deceive  the  eye.    But  with  all  these  jirecautions  they  appear 
to  lose  many  eggs  and  young  by  s(iuirrels  and  other  animals. 
'I'he  nest  is  usually  bottomed  with  dry  oak  or  beech  leaves, 
coarse  stalks  of  grass  and  weeds,  and  lined  very  generally  with 
naturally  dissected  foliage,  its  stalks,  some  fine  grass,  and  at 
other  times  a  mixture  of  root-fibres;  but  no  earth  is  employed 
in  the  fabric.     The  eggs,  4  or  5,  are  of  an  emerald  green  with- 
out spots,  and  differ  from  those  of  the  Catbird  only  in  beiiii,'  a 
little  smaller  and  more  inclined  to  blue.     So  shy  is  the  s])r,  jcs 
that  though  I  fi'igned  a  violent  chirjjing  near  the  nest  contain- 
ing their  young,  which  brought  Sparrows  and  a  neighhoriiii,' 
l)altini(3re  to  the  rescue,  the  parents,  peeping  at  a  distance,  djil 
not  venture  to  ap])roach  or  even  express  any  marked  coik  ern, 
though  they  prove  very  watchful  guardians  when  their  brnml 
are  fledged  and  with  them  in  the  woods.     They  have  coin- 
monly  two  broods  in  the  season ;   the   second    being  raiseil 
about  the  middle  of  July,  after  which  their  musical  notes  are 
but  seldom  heard.     I  afterwards  by  an   accident  obtained  a 
young  fledged  bird,  whi(  h  retained  in  the  cage  the  unsdcial 
and  silent  timidity  peculiar  to  the  species. 

Wilson's  Thrush  1)rceds  farther  to  the  southward  than  the  Her- 
mit, hut  does  not  range  ciuite  so  far  nortli.  It  is  common  in  tlie 
Maritime  Provinces  and  near  the  city  of  Quebec,  but  has  not  Ijctii 
taken  recently  on  the  nortli  shore  of  the  Ciulf  of  St.  Lawrence.  It 
breeds  abundantly  in  Ontario  and  in  northern  Oliio. 

In  New  Brunswick  I  have  found  the  nest  as  frequently  in  an 
open  pasture  as  in  more  obscure  places. 


GRAV-CIIEI-KED    rilRUSIl. 


211 


sni  111 
i  cMMly 

inhnals. 
leaves, 
lUy  Nvith 
i,  anil  at 
mploynl 
:cn  wilh- 
1  iK'inii  a 
c  spicics 
■_  contain- 
ighlixrin:^ 
Lance,  (li'l 
I  coiv  ern, 
icir  bvoml 
aave  com- 
ing  raised 
1  notes  are 
)l)taineil  a 
e  unsocial 

Ian  tlu'  Her- 
nmon  in  the 
Lvs  not  Ikh'H 
[wrence.    1' 

hentlv  i;^'  ^•• 


OLIVE-BACKED   THRISH. 

TURDUS    ISiri.ATl'S    SWAINSOMI. 

Thar.     Above,  olive  ;  bcncatli,  white,  shaded  with  olive  on  the  sides  ; 
side-  111    head,  iieek,   and  breast    tinj^cd   with    bull;    throat    and   breast 


iii'.il 


with  olive;  yellowish   liny   aiDund  the  eye.      l.ingth  6^3  to 


inliir' 


iW'l.     In  a  low  tree  or  bush  ;  of  twigs,  leaves,  grass,  etc. 
/iV.,.*.     J-4 ;  greenish  blue  speckled  with  brown  ;  0.90  X  0.65. 

'riiis  speeies  was  omitted  by  Nultall.  th()iiL;li  jiiveii  bv  \V 


ilsnn. 


It 

has  nnuh  the  same  ran,s;e  and  similar  li:ibits  as  the  Ileiiiiit,  tlioutih 
dill,  ring  in  its  soii.c;  and  tlie  location  of  its  nest.  'I'he  tone  of  ils 
voice  is  richer  anil  rounder  more  llute-Iike  and  less  metallic  — 
th.iii  that  of  any  otlier  of  the  small  Thrushes;   but  the  soni;  lacks 


that  spiritual  quality  so  conspicuous  in  the  liym 
the  i  lerniit. 


n-lil 


melody   of 


Till'  Olive-backed  is  found  throughout  the  tem])erate  re; 


.1011  ot 


eastt  rn  North  America,  and  westward  to  tiie  eastern  b;ise  of  tl 


le 


Rock 


ics. 


It  1 


)ree(ls  \n  n( 


)rtliern  New  Miigland  and  northward 


and 


in  the  elevated  i:)ortioiis  of  .Massachusetts  and  Coniuiticut,  as  utll 
tlicrn    New  N'ork  and   MichiLran,  and  winters  in  the  liiilf 


as  in  nortlu'i'ii 


Stales  and  southward  to  i'anama. 

It  is  common  in  the  Maritime  Provinces,  but  is  reported  rather 
rare  between  Montreal  and  L;ike  Huron,  tliough  it  being  an  abun- 
dant migrant  through  Ohio,  I  should  expect  to  tind  it  plentiful  in 
portions  of  Ontario. 


GRAV-rHKEKb:i )  THJIUSH. 

ALICE'S  TlIIU'SIl. 
TURKfS    Al.lCI.K. 

•"hm;.  Above,  olive  ;  cheeks  grayish;  beneath,  white;  sides  tinged 
Willi  uiive;  throat  and  breast  tinged  with  luiff  and  marked  with  large  dark 
>liots.     Length  7  to  734;  inches. 

y^-f.  Tn  a  low  bush  or  on  the  ground;  of  grass  and  leaves,  etc., 
l:ne(l  with  fine  grass. 

f-is'-^'-     3-4;  greenish  blue  spotted  with  brown;  0.90  X  0.70. 

After  much  contention  as  to  the  validity  of  Alice's  Thrush  as  a 
variety  of  the  Olive-backed,  tlie  systematists  have  decided  to  give  it 


212 


singim;  ijirds. 


spccilic  rank.  In  appcaram c  it  ilitl'iis  from  jaW//.yo;/// chicth  in 
lackiiiLC  tl'c  yi'llow  around  the  vyv,  and  in  liavin;^  .^''-'y  insli;  i'!  ot 
hiitf  rliL'L'ks.     Aliciir  is  also  a  trillc  tlu-  lari^LT  of  llu-  two. 

The  distrihution  of  liic  i^rcsciit  species  lias  not  yet  jjeeii  thdr- 
ou^Idy  worked  out,  for  only  a  few  years  have  passed  sint  e  its 
(liseovery;  Inil  it  is  known  to  occur  m  the  I'nited  States  anil  the 
settled  jiortions  of  Canada  as  a  migrant  (jnly,  breeding  nurili  to 
the  Arctic,  and  winlcring  .south  to  Costu  Kiea. 


BicKX  i:i,!;s  rii  risii. 

'IVkhis  Ai.ici.v:  i;ii  km.i.ii. 

Char.  Above,  nlivr,  varvini;  from  a  uriiyish  to  a  russet  tnit ;  uiiii:- 
and  tail  slightly  biowiar  than  b.u.k  ;  (li>iiiicl  linu  of  p.ile  butf  .uoiiml  \Vx 
eyes;  cheeks  biUtisli ;  bcncatli,  whitt-,  tini;L(l  with  olive  nn  the  -uk-, 
throat  and  breiist  tinj^td  with  hnlf  and  in.ukid  with  large  (l.uk  -pni- 
I^ength  7  to  -,Vz  inches. 

At'.iA  On  tliL'  ground,  in  a  thicket;  coiii|io>ed  of  twigs,  grass,  and  muss, 
lined  with  grass. 

Avs'*'     3-4  ;  P'l'c  blueish  green  spcckl'-d  with  brown  ;  0.S5  X  0  dy 

This  variety  of  the  ( iray-(  heeked  Thrush  was  discovircd  bv 
Mr.  iiugene  I'.  I'dcknell  amid  the  Catskdl  .\b)untains  in  1SS5.  It 
has  bci'n  found  on  all  the  higher  ranges  of  l^asteni  .America  and 
in  Illinois,  and  .Mr.  Langille  claims  to  have  discovered  the  nest 
on  an  ksland  off  the  southern  coast  of   Nova  Scotia. 


w.vn.R  iTiRrsfi. 

WATI'.R  \V.\r,T.\!I,. 
SkII:RUS   \(  )VK1!(  )|<.\(  i-.N.sis. 

CllAR.  .\b()ve,  decji  olive  l)rown  ;  lino  over  the  eye  whitish:  iKMioatV 
white  tinged  with  bright  vellmv.  and  spotted  with  olive.  Length  ;':ij 
6  inches. 

A'i'st.  On  the  ground,  in  border  of  swamp  or  stream;  bnlkv,  rl 
loosely  mrule  of  moss,  leaves,  and  grass,  lined  with  roots.  Soinctinicj 
deeply  imbedded  in  mf)ss,  or  covered  with  it. 

/Ti.'-j.nf.  4-6;  white,  spotted,  most  heavily  near  the  larger  cml,  hIk 
brown  and  lilac;  0.75  X  o  55. 


WAILR    rilKLSH. 


213 


iLtK  in 

Lin  ilior- 
iini  I'  it-> 
,  iiiul  Uu' 
nurili  lo 


a.irk  -\M\>- 
^s,  ;uul  lU"". 
5  X  o.i'S- 

icovi'vuil  liy 

1SS5.  It 

imei-ira  ami 


tislv.  iH-n"'"' 
|T,cni;th  .^'^w 

,.    bulkv,  ar: 
Soinetiiiii-' 


|gc>' 


li 


This  shy  ami  retiring  sylvan  species  extends  its  sununer 
tiii;;i.ilions  thruuj^iiDiit  the  I'nited  Stati's,  breeilini;  rarely  in 
|\  iiiiNvlvania,  proceeding  jirincipally  to  the  western  and 
ii.iiiluTn  regions  at  the  period  of  inciilciiion.     Mr.   Toun^rnii 


.lU't  in 


Vielf  t>bserveil  this  bird  in  ( )re!Jon,  as  wel 


as  II 


I  M 


i>^(iun. 


wlnre  it  was,  no  doubt,  breeding,  and  sung  in  a  very  lively 
iiiiniiiT,  kei'ping  in  a  shady  wood  which  bordered  a  small 
>lit  ,1)11,  often  descending  to  the  ground  after  a(|uatic  insects  or 
liiA.i',  and  with  the  tail  in  a  constant  balancing  motion,  re- 
iiiinliiig  us  strongly  of  the  Wagtail  or  Motacilla  of  lairope. 
1  lie  Aipiatic  Thrush   has,  indeeil,  a    parli(  uiar  partiality   for 


llir  \  HI 


iiitv  of  waters,  wading  in   llu'  shallow  streams  in  search 


insects,  moving  Us  tail  as  it  leisure 


ly  foil 


ows   its   ])ursuit.  aiK 


eh  itlrrinif  as  it  llies. 


)uriiiLi   Its  transient  miuratiiiLr  visits  it  is 


vri\'  timid,  and  darts  into  the  thickets  as  soon  as  approached, 
iiUirmg  a  sharp  and   rather   |)laintive   A////'  of  alarm.      About 


inning  of  May,  these  birds  appear  in  reimsylvania  tVoiii 


the  South,  and  slay  around  dark  and  solitary  streams  for  ten 
or  luilve  days,  and  then  disappi-ar  until  about  the  middle  of 
.\iiL;ii>t,  when,  on  their  way  to  their  tropical  winter  ([uarters, 
tlK\  leave  the  swamps  and  mountains  of  their  summer  rt'treat, 
ami,  after  again  gleaning  a  transient  siibsistenci-  for  a  few  days 
tow  1)1  Is  the  sea-roast,  de])art  for  the  season.      In    Massachu- 


sctt,-,   tliev  are    scar 


celV    t 


\-er  seen    except    m    the   autumn,  and 


I'lintiiiue   in 


sliadv 


■arc 


lens. 


probablv  feeding   on    small    wild 


heme 


till  nearlv  the   close  of  SeptembiT. 


It  appears,  according  to  Wilson,  that   the  fivorite  resort  of 
tll;^  species  is  in  the   cane-brakes,  swamps,  ri\'er  shores,  and 


\v:iler\-    solitudes    o 


f    I 


.ouisiana. 


ennessee 


aim 


M 


ISSH-,1I)|I1. 


n'U-   It  IS  abundant,  and    is    emineiith-    di^tiumiishe(l 


Idlli 


ilness,  sweetness,  and  expressi\-e  \i\-a(  ity  of  its  notes,  which. 


hf'iinning  hiirh  and  cl 


I'ar, 


ll 


ow 


and    desct'nd   in   a    .'adence  so 


'lelir.ite  as  to  tiTuiinate  in  rouinN  that  are  scarcely  audible. 
At  Muh  times  the  singer  sits  jierehed  on  ^ollu■  branch  which 
stretdies  im])ending  over  the  tlowing  stream,  and  ]iours  out  his 
'li:uiriing  melody  with  such  t'lk'ct  as  to 
taiK  e  of  nearlv  half  a  mile,  Lrivinir 


heard   at   tli<'   dh 


a  ])eculiar  charm  to  the  dark 


214 


SINdINO   niKDS. 


and  Mjlitary  wilds  lie  inliahits.  'I'hc  silLiicc  of  iiij^'ht  isaUu.  ii 
times,  relieved  by  tlu'  incessant  warble  of  this  Western  I'hilo- 
tnel,  whose  voice,  breakiiij^'  upon  the  ear  of  the  1  mely  travi  llir 
in  the  wii<!erness,  seems  like  the  dulcet  lay  of  something  siiiir- 
natural.  His  son^'  is  also  heard  in  the  wintir  when  the 
weather  pro\es  mild.  In  this  habit  he  appear^.  con>i<ler.i!i|y 
allied  to  the  Keed  Thrush  or  River  Nightingale  of  liun^pc. 
which  night  and  day  almost  ceaselessly  sings,  and  soothes  his 
sitting  mate,  among  the  ree<Is  and  marshes  of  his  favorite 
resorts. 

Since  .NuttaH",'.  day  llu'  Water  Thrush  has  been  sei)aratefl  fnitn 
tile  trui.'  ThruslKs  and  classed  with  the  Warbkrs.     'I'lic  binJN  sci;n 


by  Wilson  and  Aud 


uhoii  Ml  l.ouisian 


;i.  Teniu'sscc,   and  .Mi.ssis>i|ipi 


were  doubtless  rci'erabk'  to  iiiotacilliX,  for  though  the  present  >\y 
cies  is  found  throughout  this  Eastern  Province,  west  to  Illinois  and 
Manitoba,  it  seldom  has  been  discovered  breedini.'  south  of  4;  .   h 
is  a  rath(;r  conuiion 


spring-  and  autunm  visitor  to  .Ma>sacli 


llM 


On  the  plains  the  tyjje  is  replaced  by  the  variety  named  iinlit 


—  <  ilMWIXl-'s    WA  IICK    'I'llKISlI. 


dii 


cli  is  lari^er 


and 


(lai 


k.:r 


Notabilis  occurs  occasionalh'  in  Illinois  and  Indiana. 


LOUISIANA   WATKR   THRUSH. 

Sf.ILKIS    MorACIM-A. 

Cli\R.  Simihrto  )torch,n;u-i'ii.us,  but  larjicr,  and  hill  lonf^erand  -t  'Uti.-: 
Undfr  jiarts  tinged  with  ImlT,  Imt  never  witii  bright  yellow;  thro.it  iriv 
from  .■.i)()ts.     Ixngtli    5'+   to  (i'<   inches. 

Nest.  On  the  ground,  hidden  amid  roots  of  fallen  tree,  or  on  a  iiio>-; 
bank  ;  coniiioscd  of  leaves,  grass,  and  nioss,  lined  with  grass  and  Ii.it. 

^;V-f.  4-'^';  white,  sometimes  with  creamy  tint,  speckled  with  Ir-iv. 
and  lilac;  o  75  Xo  60. 

The  range  of  this  species  extends  from  southern  New  I-Jiirla'i'- 
and  the  (Ireat  Lakes  (in  suninier)  to  the  Gulf  States  and  Centra. 
America  (in  winter).  A  few  i)airs  are  seen  every  sea.son  in  southem 
Ontario.     Its  habits  do  not  differ  from  those  of  its  congener. 


s  alsK.  at 
n  I'hi'o- 
tr;ivi  llrr 

vhcn   the 
isiilcraMy 

)()thcs  his 

>,    f;iVt>riU' 


rated  from 
l)ir(K  Ml  a 
Missis-ii'l'i 
jruscnl  ^pe- 
Illinois  inc! 

h  of  45  •  It 
;\du\StUs. 

and  darker. 


cr  and  -'  ■'''■'•' 
.V ;  diroai  Irtc 

lor  on  -i  I"'" 
Is  ami  1  =  r 
1(1  Willi  !'r''.v-. 

and  Crutn. 

In  in  >"'''li^'^-' 
Imcncr. 


o\i;n   iiiKi). 

GOLUKX-CKOWNKI)    TIIKUSII. 
SkIURUS    AL'KOCAI'Il.l.rs. 

CiiAR.  Abf)vc,  olive  ;  crciwn  orangc-hiown,  liordcrcd  with  black  stripes, 
wliih  liii.n  around  the  eyes;  heneath,  white,  s|K)itc(!  with  nlivc.  I.tii,i;tli 
5';  til  (I'i  inches. 

A', ','.  On  tiie  ground,  at  tiie  foot  of  a  tree  or  in  the  moss  on  a  deraved 
loj;  .  ratlier  loosely  made  of  twigs,  grass,  leaves,  and  moss,  lined  witli  line 
gr,i--  and  hair.  The  top  is  often  completely  roofed,  sometimes  arclud  or 
(iniiud;  the  entrance  on  the  side. 

/:.,■'.     .(-6;  creamy  wlute,  spotted  with  brown  and  lilai- ;  o.So  >^o.55. 

This  rather  common  l)ir(l,  so  nearly  allied  to  the  tnic 
Thrii>hts,  is  found  throughont  the  forests  of  the  United  States, 
Canada,  and  in  the  territory  of  Oregon  during  the  sinnmer, 
nni\iiig  in  the  Middle  and  Northern  States  about  the  beginning 
oi'  May  or  close  of  .April,  an'l  departing  for  tro]ii(al  .\nierica, 
MiAiro,  and  the  larger  \\'est  India  islands  t'aily  in  Seiitiinber. 

The  C'lolden-crowned  Thrush,  shy  rind  retiring,  is  ne'\er  seen 
out  of  the  shade  of  the  woods,  and  sits  and  nms  along  the 
.Uronnd  often  like  the  Lark;  it  also  fre(|iienls  the  branches  of 
trees,  and  sometimes  moves  its  tail  in  the  manner  of  the  \\'ag- 
taiK.  It  has  few  pretensions  to  song,  ;ind  while  jien  bed  in 
the  dre|)  and  shady  part  of  the  forest,  it  titters,  at  intervals,  a 
simple,  long,  reiterated  note  of  '/x/i\:  tslir  tfh.c  tsJir  tslu\  rising 
fnjin  low  to  high  and  shrill,  so  as  to  give  bnl  little  idea  of  the 
(li^tanre  or  place  from  whence  the  sonnd  proceeds,  and  often 
appearing,  from  the  loudness  of  the  closing  cadence,  to  be  much 


^'«fl 


216 


sixci.Nc;  i;iui)S. 


lUMirr  th.in  it  really  is.     .\^  somi  as  discoxcrcil,  like  the  Woo,! 


iiii^li,  it  (laits  at   OIK  r    'imidU'   into   the   (Iciniis  of  its  sv 


\.iii 


retreat 


hiirinn    tlie    iHiiod    of  iiieiihation,  llie    deliber 


lie    I. IV 


of  the  male,    iroiii   somi'    hori/.oiital   branch  nf  the   forest    tre 
wlu're  it  often  sits  iisiiallv  still,  is  a  'A/'/'  (,  |^||(■  /,   /Ji,-  /,  /,//, 


[,nadiially    \\>\\vd^    and 


;ro\vin^    louder.       'I'owards   ijiisk    in 


lh( 


(.'veniiu 


noue\  ( 


r,    it  now   and   then    utters   a  siiddm    hnrsi   (jf 


notes  with    a    >hoil,  at;reealile   waible,    whi<  h    leMninales   (on 


nuaib-  in  ihe  usiial  V^/ze  A-  t^lir.      Its  <  1 


ilioiis   o\en-slia|)ed  Mot 


is  known  to  all   the  sportsmen   who   tra\eis( 


he   solitary  uili|s 


w  hn  h  It  inhabits.  1  his  ingenious  labru  is  :.':;,k  ,1  h,de  into  \\\v 
Ljroimd,  ;ind  generally  situatiMJ  on  sonn-  drv  and  iiu)ss\-  hmk 
<(iniii;iious  to  biishesor  on  an  uik  leared  siiriaee  •    it  is  joinird 


Willi  iiieal  neatness,  ol    dr\' 


ol   urass,  ami  hned   with  iln 


same  ■  it  is  tinai  Miriiioimled  b\  a  thi(  k  im  lined  roof  of  si, hi- 
lar maleiials,  llie  siirfiii'  seattereil  with  l(a\-es  and  twi^s  so  .i-, 
to  m  il(  h  the  lesl  of  the  ground,  an<l  m\  eiilraiuc  i-,  lrl"t  at  ihr 
side.  Near  Mili(  n  iiills.  in  this  vieinit\',  the  situation  elio,,  n 
was  amonu  lo»\  \\hoitl!berr\'  bushes,  in  a  stunted  «  edai  ii,,l 
(;ak  ,L;ro\e.  When  surprised,  the  bird  escapes,  o|- runs  from  ilic 
nest  with  tlu'  sileiici'  and  '■elerilv  of  a  mouse.  If  an  alliinpi 
be  made  to  discover  \\w  vv<\  iVoiu  whi(  h  she  is  lluslnd,  ,|ic 
slops.  Ilutters.  and  pretends  l.imeiiess,  and  watcliinij;  the  sui  1  rss 
of  the  maiKeiivre,  at  length,  when  tlu'  deco\-  set  ins  compKi,, 
she  takes  to  \\ing  and  disappears.  The  ()\-en  I'.inl  is  aiioijur 
of  the  'oster-parents  sometiiiK'S  chosen  b\'  the  ( 'ow  Trfxipiil ; 
and  she  rears  the  foundlim;  with  her  accustomed  can-  iivl 
afle(lion,  ainl  keeps  up  an   iiucssant  A////' when  her   unllc(!::i;l 


brood  are  e\(  n   (bstantb'  a| 


iproaciu' 


hese  birds  ha\e  ollrii 


tw 


o   Proods   111   a   seasoi 


I   in  the   M 


Kidle 


.Stati 


lu-ir  loo 


\\holl\-  insects  arid  their  lar\a',  ])articularl\-   small  (  (iK'optcroih 


kinds  and  ants,  cliielh  ( olic 


■(  ti'd  on  the  ground. 


The  Oven  llird.  lil^<■  tlu'  Water  Tlinisli,  has  been  rcmo 


VI  (1    I'V 


modern  autlinritus  troin   i  lassilu  .iIkji 


1    ■•,  I 


111  the  'i'linisli  fainlK  .imi 


j',laee(l  with  tile  W'.ir!  iKis.  It  is  no\'.  know  n  to  breed  from  \"ic;inia 
and  the  Ohio  vallev  to  Labrador  and  Hudson  liay.  ll  is  al'iinl- 
ant  ill  .MassaehuseLt.s  and  the  Marilinic  I'roviiucs,  and  eoiii'in,!! 
mer  its  entire  ■'.uu'e. 


M\kii.i;  \\AKi;i,i.K 


17 


svU.in 
\\r  liy 

ill    \\u'. 
)\\y^\   of 

)r(l  nr-il 

,IV  will  Is 

inli>  tl»' 

,  I'liinit'l, 
w'nli  llir 

vi.us  ^"  •1'' 

lofl  :>'  ''»■ 
111    (liii^li 

^•(1:11      il.'l 
s  iVuin  llii' 

11    illUHIlil 


|l,r  Mil  (.• 


t<, 


i'^ 


aiiiiUuT 


cai' 


liinUi 
li:i\^' 


ilU'l, 


lU'Ol'lrl' 


■niov' 


i     IS 


M\irii.i'.  w.\ki;i.i:R. 

\  l.l.I.O'A-Kl'MI'    WAKlll.l.U.     Nl.lldW    (   Uu\\\i:i)    \VA  K  III  .I' K. 
I  »l  \|iK(  i|(  A    (  (  iKi  i\  \l  \. 

(IIM;.  M.ilr:  ;ii)(ivc,  hliii^b  i:,i.i\  si  leaked  willi  M.k  k  ;  sidrs  ntlii.iil 
li,,ii  k  ;  Ima^l  and  >idcs  iimslK  hknl^;  |i.iiilic>,  nf  yclluw  on  (mwn  and 
iiiui|>  A]\i\  ^ides  1)1  l)U-a-~l  ;  llnn.il  and  1)(  ll\  uliili-  ,  winL'. dials  and  pali  Ins 
(in  1  ail  uliiir.  I'i-nialc,  v mniL',  and  nialr  in  winUi  :  "-iniilai,  Imt  the  li.n  k 
wiik  a  ill, I  111  111  'VII  in  |ila(  r  ,,\  liliiu,  and  all  laildis  duller,  and  iiiai  kinj;s 
li-~-  dlslim  I.      la  n;;lli   !^  In  ()  Jiu  lu's. 

.\.  1/  In  a  ( oiiilii'ius  lita-  5  to  10  ficl  finni  tlic  ground,  in  a  ii.^tmc  01 
;i;.rn  :;iii\L'  (if  vvundlaiid;  ('iau|ins((l  ol'  lu  i_L;s  and  i;ia----,  lintil  with  line 
gr.is.  ,  Sdiiii  1  iini-s  Willi  lialla  I  s, 

.15;  (lull    uliiii-   nr   (  rcainv  wliilc,   .>-|)iilt((l   (lii(il\-   ainnnd    tin- 


/• 


laii;'  I  (lid  uidi  liiowM  and 


ac  ;  (J. 70  ,■   o.  ;o. 


'die   lii'-torv   t)l    tins   nitlur  (ohhik 


111    W 


iihliT   ta-in.iiii>   \iT\' 


iiii|iiir((  1.      Ill  the  Mi(Mk-  ,1 


111(1    Nncllicill    Slates   ii 


Is  a    iiiii|   u\ 


:c,   airuiiu 


from   llic   South   al 


II  Hit 


lie    (  l(  )sc  ( I 


liciMIllll 


iiL!  of  \\:w,  and   |ir<i(  ('((liii-   noitli  as  far  as  ( 


!'  Ajiid 


aiiaila  ami 


iii'liii'to  iiass   the   MuiiiiuT  season  in  the  (  ares  ol    liice,  ijii'r 


ami  icarinL(  llie  yoiint 


As  earlv  as  tl 


le   V'lh  ol   AuL^llst,  or  after 


ai  aliM'iiee  ol    little  more  than  tlua c  inoiillis.   tlie-e  hinls  auain 
ipliear;   aiiil    beiiiL;   hai(l\,  |iassiiiL;    jiarlies  <  oiiliiine  u  it  li  iis  in 


UMt'leiis   and    woods  till  alioiit   the  (lose  o| 


\o\(aiil)er,  Itaalint; 
I/i 


linu  aliiiost   e\<  liisi\(dv  on  the  iii\rtle  wax  llerrle^   (.l/i//(,/  r,//- 
I'/'/},  or  on  those  of  the  \  iruinian  jiiniiier.     'I  liese.  other  late 


and   persisting  lu 


riles,  and    ck  <  asional    insects,  (oiistitnle   iluar 


vviiiirr  lood  in  the  Southern  Mates,  where,  m  (  oiisiderahle  niiin- 


1  -.  Ill  the  s\vaiii|is  aiii  I  s 


It  llered  L;ro\es  ol  the  sea-(()asl,  thev 


1.1^-  the  (Oh 


1  season.      Ill  line  wcatln  r.  in  th''  earl\'  iiart  o|  (  >( 


tnlier.  ihev  iiiav  he  seen,  at    tunes,  (  n\\r<  iitiL,'  L:r,isslio|i].eis   an 
iiii'tli-  liom  the  meadows  and  iiistiires,  and,  like  the  iJlue  ilir( 


a'V  otteii  wall  h  lor  the  appear 


IlK  (■  ol 


imrai 


.tak< 


iW     iHlll'jIl,   or    lelK  (■   r, 


th(  ir  prev  trom  a  nia;di- 
,    and   at  this  t  ime  ah    so 
the    voiiliLr.  as  I'earlesslv 


md   nnsiis|)i('ioiis.   parln  ularls' 

.   li  almost  nithill  the  rea(  h  of  the  silent  spectator. 


.\t 


2l8 


SIN(JL\G   BIRDS. 


llu-  i)LTi()(l  ui'  mi^raiion,  tlicy  appear  in  an  altered  and  lc.-,s 
l)rillianl  drc^s.  'I'hc  briglit  yellow  >.pol  on  the  crown  i^,  mnv 
edL,a(l  with  bnjwnish  uli\e,  ^o  tliat  llie  prevailing  color  of  ihis 
beautiful  mark  is  oiil)-  ^,een  on  shedding  the  feathers  with  the 
hand  ;  a  brownish  tint  is  also  adde<l  to  the  wliole  jjhnnage.  Iliit 
Wilson's  figure  of  lliis  supixj.^ed  aulunuuil  change  only  repic- 
bird.      'I'he  old  is,  in  fact,  but  little  less  brilli, nit 


liie 


senln  the  yoiiiiL 

than  in  summer,  and  I  ha\e  a  well-founded  suspicion  that 
wearing  of  the  edgt's  of  the  fealliers,  or  some  other  secoivLiry 
cause,  al(jne  produces  this  change  in  the  li\ery  of  spring,  pir- 
ticularlv  as  it  is  not  anv  sexual  distinction. 


W 


lule  teedmg  they  are  wry  active,  m  the  manner  of  I  ly 


.f 


:iiu 


■illIU 


catchers.  ho\ering  among  the  cedars  and  myrtles  with  han 
wings,  and  only  rest  when  sati>.ned  with  gleaning  food. 
s])ring  ihi'y  :\rc  still  more  timid,  busy,  and  restless.  Accoi 
to  Audubon,  the  nest  and  eggs  are  scan  ely  to  be  <listingui->iu'il 
fi"(jm  those  of  Sy/j'ia  (r.\//7'a  ;  one  whi(  h  he  examined  iVnin 
Xova  Scotia  was  made  in  the  extremity  of  the  branch  of  a  luw 
fir  tree, 


out  five   feet   from   the  ground.      When  appr 


•OH  ai( 


or  while  fei<ling.  they  only  utter  a  feeble,  plaintive  A/'/>  of 
alarm.  'I'his  beautit'ul  >pecies  arri\es  here  about  the  y'.ii  or 
Sih  of  May,  and  now  chielly  tVe<[iients  the  orchards,  uti'  riiii; 
at  short  intiTvals,  in   the  morninLT.  a   sweet  and  varied,  raiur 


r<  -^ei 


ubling  in  ]iart  the  song  of  the  S 


lunuiK'r 


plaintive  warb 

Yellow    llird,   but    much    more   the    firewell.  solitary  autnniii:: 

notes  o(  the  Robin  Kedbreast  of  Murope.     'j'lic  tones  at  t 


UK'S 


are  also  m)  \entnloi|uia 


1  and 


\- iriable   m  elevation  that  it  i->  iMt 


alwavs  eas\-  to  ascertain  the  spot  when 


ce 


hev  proceed 


W 


iiie 


thus  engagcil  in  ([ue^t  of  small  caterpillars,  the  Myrtle 


rllis 


almost  insen^^ible  to  obtrusion,  an 
jjrey,  howe\er  near  we  mav  approai  h. 


d   familiarly  searches  lor  its 


The  ■•  Nel 


!)ice(ls  rcLiulai 


low-ruini) 


hv  wliuli  name  tins  snorios  is 


1' 
Iv   ill    W'niinnt  and    .\ew    I  bun 


best 


)^hiiv,  nnd 


k':i)\vn 

!,  >rtli- 


ward  to  soiitliern  babrador.  It  is  an  abundant  sunimer  n-  iK  i  "t 
the  .\buatinie  rrovinces.  but  elsewhere,  in  the  settled  portiensof 
Canada,  occurs  as  a  niinrant  only.  It  winters  regularly  in  .\I  issa- 
chusitts  and  central  Ohio,  and  thence  southward  as  far  as  Ct :  tral 
.\meiica. 


VELl.OW    I'ALM    WAKliLER. 


19 


YELLOW    1'AL^[    WARJJLICR. 

\  i.I.I.UW    Kl.D-l'ULL   WAKDLEK. 
IJI.MikoHA    I'AI.MAKL  .\1    ii\  I'OCl  IKN  Sl.A. 

(  IIAK.  Above,  lji()\viii>li  (ilivi:  ;  ruiii|i  )xll(>wi>li,  clii>ky  strtakN  011  tiio 
Ixi'  k  ;  iiiiwii  clR>luut  ;  lim.-  u\xi'  cyi.-  .ukI  iiiKkr  parts  rich  _\cIIia\  ;  hica.-^t 
aiiii  sidt.s  >ir(jakctl  Willi  brnwu  ;  110  wiiilc  wIiil;  bars;  s(|uari.-  patches  ot 
unite  1)11  two  pairs  ul  iiuler  tail-lealliei>.      l,en,e,lh  5  U)  5/4  inciio 

.\,,.('.  (In  llie  yiDund  1)11  border  ul  sw.uiip;  hjusely  made  i^i  yrass, 
welds,  and  moss  t'.i>leiied  wiih  caterpillar's  >ilk,  lined  with  roots,  liair, 
piiic-iieedles,  or  leathers. 

>'■^v''•  ■\-S'  '-•'-■■"iiy  while,  soiiieiinies  with  ro>eate  UnL;e,  marked  on 
larL;er  eml  with  line  spoL.^  ol  brcnvn  and  lilac;  0.65  X  0.50. 

'I'lie  Wllow  Keil-polls  in  sm.ill  iiiiinlifrs  nrriw  in  [he  Middle 
nnd  .Norlhcrn  Slalcs  in  liic  month  of  .Xjiril  ;  nian\'  jiroci't'd  as 
f.ir  as  Labrador,  wiicrc  they  wt-re  seen  in  siimnier  by  .Xtuhilion, 
and  in  the  month  of  .Xnt^iist  the  yotniL;  were  irenerally  fled,i,'i'(L 
\n  die  Southern  States  they  are  nbn.idant  in  winter.  While 
lirrr,  like  many  other  transient  ]:)assen<,^iTs  of  the  fiinilv.  they 
aiijicar  extremtdy  bnsy  in  qtu'st  of  tlu-ir  restless  insect  |>rey. 
Til  'N-  fri'i|iient  low,  swampy  thickets,  are  rare,  and  their  few 
f  (  Mr  notes  ;ire  said  scarcely  to  deserve  tiie  name  of  a  sonj:^. 
1 ! I  -e  straL,rglers  remain  all  summer  in  I'ennsvKani  1,  but  the 
ii(  -t  is  unknown.  'I'hey  dejiart  in  Septtinber  or  rjrly  in  Octo- 
!)i  r.  and  some  jirobably  winter  in  the  soiitlurnmosi  States,  ;is 
llu'v  were  met  with  in  Liliniary,  by  Wilson,  near  Savannah. 
This  is  ;i  different  sjieeies  from  the  i'alm  Warbler,  whi(  h  prob- 
alih  iloes  not  exist  in  the  I'nited  States. 

I  his  bird  a]i]X'ars  yet  to  be  very  little  known.  Pennant  has 
1110,1  strant^ely  blended  up  its  description  with  that  ( d'  the 
R';!i\  I fowned  Wren  I  h.is  supposed  female  being  pre(  isely 
tint   bird. 


The  I-".astcM-n  form  of  the  ralin  Warbler  is  a  common  ])ir(!  from 
tfr  \;l,iiitie  to  the  Mississi])pi  \allr\-.  wlure  it  is  replaced  bv  tnic 
ihi'nndniiii.  'I'hc  i-!asti'rn  bird  i'.  abmulanl  in  summer  in  niirtliern 
Ma:!ir  and  New  lirimswii  k.  and  Atibtibon  eonsideri  d  it  eonmion 
in  Labrador,  though  late  observers  there  li.tve  ran  1\- lutind  it. 


s.-S5;i!.HWiyr-'~*:".f*^*»""* 


220 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


i\Ir.  Xcilson  thinks  it  umoniinon  iicii'  nornald,  Quchcc.  and 
says  hu  never  slcs  a  s|)cciinLii  later  than  June  1st.  Dr.  Wlicaton 
has  repoiled  it  as  a  cornnu)!!  migrant  liiruugh  Ohio,  hut  it  is  re- 
purleti  rare  in  Ontario.  .XattaH's  statenieiii.  Ijorrowed  from  Wilson, 
that  s(nnj  remained  in  J'eimsylvania  duiiiiL;  tlie  Ijrecding  season, 
has  not  been  conlirnied  Ijy  more  recent  observations.  It  winters  in 
tile  .Southern  and  vlull  States. 

In  habits  this  species  stands  [)eLuliar.  Unlike  oi\\cr  Dciufroicu'.  it 
nests  \j\\  the  ground,  and  uidike  al!  other  Warblers,  it  .sliows  a 
strong  preterenee  lor  tields  and  road-sides,  where  it  may  be  louii'l 
lio])ping  along  with  the  Sparrows,  and  Hirting  its  tail  like  a  Titlark. 

The  song  is  a  verv  simple  atlair,  —  a  lew  sweet  notes. 


NoTi':.  —  The  I'ai.m  Wakiii.i;k  [Dendroica  palmaniin)  differs 
from  hvpochrvsra  in  being  smaller  and  much  didler  colored.  It  's 
usu.dlv  restricted  to  tlie  Mississi|)pi  valley:  but  some  winter  'w. 
Florida,  and  occa.sional!y  a  solitary  straggler  has  jjcen  seen  in  il  c 
Atlantic  States. 

Al  1)1  imn's  W AUi'.i.KK  {Dendroica  audnhoni).  though  a  bird  ,)f 
the  Wi>stern  Plai:is,  has  a  right  to  mention  here  through  one  e.xani- 


ple  li:i\'.'ig  u 


been  taken  in  Cambridge.  Mass. 


vi:i.i,ow  w.\ri;t.i:r. 

SUMMTK    VELLOW   BIRD.     SUMMllK    WARBbFR. 
I  )I  \ltki>|c,\    /KSllNA. 


CllAR.  rrencr.'il  color  golden  yt  How,  ujiper  ii.M-t>  tii\i;cd  with  olivu  ; 
breast  and  sides  streaked  with  oringi-  l)rou!i.     l,enL;tli  .['j  to  5'4  incbis. 

,\',,7.  On  a  Ijiisli  or  low  tree,  in  a  .garden  or  open  pasture  ;  gracet'ully 
fornieil  and  roinpactlv  woven,  t)f  various  vegetable  fibres,  — grass,  steins, 
etc.  —  usna'.lv  lined  witli  hair  or  plant  down,  sometimes  with  feather-. 

/•.'^;;o-.  j;-3;  dull  white  or  greenish  white,  marked  chielly  around  die 
larger  end  with  brown  and  lilac;  0.65  X  0..15. 

'Hiis  very  conimoii  .and  brilliant  siiiiinicr  si)ccic's  is  found,  in 
all  i)arts  of  the  American  continent,  frc^m  tlic  confines  of  die 
.\ictic  cifi  le  to  I'ldriila  and  Texas,  as  w(dl  as  ()reg()n  and  liic 
Kockv  MdUiilains.  where  it  sjiends  tlu'  mild  season.  .\b"Ut 
the   midiUe   of  Mar(li    I    already   heard   the   song  amidst  the 


YELLOW   WAKIJLLK. 


121 


:,  and 
icaUin 

L   i.N  VI-- 

V'ilson, 
reason, 
ilcrs  in 

i-(vV«".  it. 
hows  a 

IC   lOUU'l 

Till  ark. 


!)  diflcrs 

■d  It  '^ 
,vinlcv  in 
;en  in  tlic 

a  bird  of 
DUO  exani- 


with  olive  ; 
rr;i<;i.iiiliv 

fv  allu'V-- 
arouiul  i'''y 


s  fonnd  m 
I  lies  ofiii^' 
|in  anil  !■'"-' 
in.     A^""^^ 


early  1)l()oniin,L(  thickets  and  leafy  wouiU  (jf  the  Altnmah.i  ;  hut 
the  birds  do  not  arrive  in  Pennsyhania  an<i  this  part  of  New 
i'.ngland  before  ilic  ist  of  May.  About  the  close  of  August  in 
the  Northern,  and  by  the  middle  of  Sei)teml>cr  in  the  Central 
.States  of  the  Lnion,  or  as  soon  as  their  >'  <  on«l  brood  are  cai)a- 
ble  of  joining  the  migrating  host,  they  disappear,  probalily  in 
the  twilight,  and  wing  their  way  by  easy  staj^e-.  to  their  tro])- 
ic'l  destination,  ])as^iing  through  I>(juisiana  in  October  and 
aiiiiearing  at  length  about  Vera  Cruz,  whence  ihey  spread  their 
numerous  host  through  tropical  America  to  (Juiana,  Cawnne, 
St.  Domingo,  and  other  of  the  larger  contiguous  i-iland^  of  the 
Wist  Indies. 

This  is  a  very  lively,  unsuspicious,  and  alino-i  fimili.ir  little 
liiid,  and  its  bright  gol.ien  color  remlers  it  very  r  on^ipii  uous, 
.1^  iu  |)ursuit  of  flitting   insec^ts  it  ])ries  an<l  darts  among  the 
blooming  shrubs  and  orchards.     It  is  ]jarti(  ulnrly  attached  to 
wiiiow  trees  and  other  kinds  in  moist  and  shadv  situations,  that 
alhjril  thi>^  and  other  species  a  variety  of  small  lar^'jc  and  i  ater- 
liill.ir-.,  on  which  they  delight  to  feed.     While  inccsMantlv  an<i 
hiiMily  employed  it  occasionall}-  mounts  the  U\\'j,  anrl  with  a 
load,  shrill,  and  almost  ])iercing  voice  it  earnestly  niters,  at    hort 
and  irregular  inter\-als,  —  '/s//'  '/s//'  'A//'  7>//'  'filotia,  or  t:hr  tshr 
till  fslnixiir  fs/ir  fshc ;  this  last  phrase  rather  plaintive  and  inter- 
ni-  iiory,  as  if  expecting  the   recognition  of  its  mate.     Some- 
tiiiu  :.,  but  particularly  at'ter  the  ( ()mmen<  ement  of  incubation, 
I  more  extended  and  pleasingly  modulated  song  i^  hennl,  as  se 
A  /,■  fflutshoo,  or  tsh'  tsh'  ish'  tshfctsJioo.  '/she  'tJie  '/Jte  't.<hoo 
>  l<lu-L\  and  'tshe  'tshr  '/she  'fs/ir  '/s/iahr  ' tihip  o  uuiy  ;  the  ter- 
mination tender,  plaintive,  and  solicitous.     I  have  heard  this 
nntc  also  sometimes  varied  to  ' soif  spit ' soil  ^ soil  ^tihip  a  7ivv. 
1  lie  female  sometimes  sings  nearly  as  well  as  the  m.ile,  partic- 
ularly about  the  time   she  is  engaged   in  fabricating  her  nest. 
.\llhough  the  song  of  these  birds  ma\'  be  heard,  le---.  vigorously, 
tu  the  month  of  August,  yet  they  tlo  not  here  apf>ear  to  raise 
mi'ie  than  a  single  brood. 

1  he  nest,  in    Massachusetts,  is  commnnh'  fixe!  in  thf   forks 
"f  1  barberry  bush,  close  shrub,  or  sapling,  a  fe-w  feet  from  the 


- ..  .^.>»^  jjiBaggawi 


-too 


SIMUXG    BIRDS. 


|i        * 


ground  ;  at  other  times,  I  have  known  the  mst  placeil  nj)()n  th< 
horizontal  branch  of  a  h()rnl)cani,  more  than  15  feel  Iron: 
the  ground,  or  even  50  feet  Iiigh  in  the  fortes  of  a  thiclc  sugai- 
majjle  or  orchard  tree.  These  lofty  situations  are,  however, 
extraordinary;  and  the  little  architects,  in  instances  (jf  thi> 
kind,  sonu'linies  failof  gi\iug  the  Usual  security  to  their  hal)il;i- 
tion.  'i'lu'  nest  is  extren.ely  neat  and  durable  ;  the  e.\teri(jr  is 
formed  of  layers  of  .hcit'/'itis,  or  silk-weed  lint,  glutinou>ly 
though  slightly  attached  to  the  suiiporting  twigs,  mixed  with 
some  slender  slri'js  of  fine  bark  and  pine  leaves,  and  tin<klv 
betlded  with  the  down  of  willows,  the  nankeen-wool  of  the  \  11- 
ginian  cotton-grass,  the  down  of  fern-stalks,  the  hair  from  liie 
downy  seeds  of  the  butloiiwood  {  /)'<i/(iii//s) ,  or  the  pappu-^  of 
compound  flowers  ;  and  then  lined  either  with  tint  d)eiit  grass 
(.li^7/Ks//.\) ,  or  down,  and  horse-hair,  and  rarely  witli  a  tew  acci- 
dental feathers.  Circumstances  sometimes  re(iuire  a  \ariation 
from  the  usual  habits  of  the  species.  In  a  garden  in  Roxbiu\, 
in  the  vicinity  of  lloston,  I  saw  a  nest  built  in  a  cmrant-biish, 
in  a  small  garden  vt'ry  near  to  the  hotise  ;  and  as  the  brau'  h 
did  not  ])resi'nt  tiie  ])roper  site  of  security,  a  large  lloor  ol drv 
grass  and  weeds  was  first  made  betwixt  it  and  a  contigiU:us 
board  fence  ;  \n  the  midst  of  this  mass  of  extraneous  materi  iN, 
the  small  nest  was  excavated,  then  lined  with  a  consiilemlK 
(piantity  of  white  horse-hair,  and  finished  with  an  interior  b  >1 
of  soft  cow-hair.  I'he  season  proving  wet  and  stormw  tin 
nest  in  this  novel  situation  fell  over,  but  was  carried,  with  ii  r 
young  to  a  safe  situation  near  the  ]>iaz/i  of  the  house,  wl.  :( 
the  jiarents  now  \'vi.\  and  reared  their  brood.  The  labor  '■: 
forming  the  nest  seems  ol'ten  wholly  to  devolve  on  the  fern  I  ■. 
On  the  loth  of  Ma\-  I  observed  one  of  these  industrious  matrniis 
busily  engaged  with  her  fabric  in  a  low  barberry  bush,  and  hy 
the  evening  of  the  second  day  the  whole  was  comjileted,  to  i:u' 
lining,  which  was  made,  at  length,  of  hair  and  willow  down,  ni 
which  she  collected  and  carried  mouthfiils  so  large  that  c 
often  appeared  almost  like  a  mass  of  ll\  ing  cotton,  and  far  1  - 
ceeded  In  industry  her  active  neighbor,  the  r.altimore.  a  •' 
was  also  engaged  in  collecting  tlie  same  materials.     Notw';V 


VK[.r,,\V    WAki;,.!.,., 


^tandin,;^  this  indiisirv-  fl,  .  ^~'^ 

--r"'"'-''^-'-.^ »:.;!;:.::;:' ~^         i 

r';  ■'"''''"•'"■  I'^^mCT    '"""''■■■"'.1  oniu. 


^'■^'!>'^',  so  that  in  m.n,.  .•„...._        '.     ''    "; 


'1'^'''  t"(lgc  only   I 


>rivir 


:p^'"-.  -  .-,:„  ,„  „„„,  ™,;  :;:',f  ;;;Y';  ,  -.■  ^...  o..,„ 

CI.'.  «c.-,|,„  fron,    tl,,   „,„,l,i,,n  '  ''   "'^"  ""^   -l>^- 

al^  r  i..T  mm.  f">tu-j,aro„t  ,vl,e„  ,|,c  egg  ;,  , ,.  , 

J"  a  t/iinl,  after  ■)   T'lw  ii  •    i-  ^    ^  "^^' 


11 


■')■  .i^ivin?'- 


^^^^ond  u-as  Jai.I,  whi.h 
'1-^^'  to  a  threc-storie 


or    ^vhen   the 


"■;i-s  si  mi  I 
ne^t. 


ha-I 
fly  trc, 


■en 


Ut 


IMlis 

ihus 


feiLriis  I; 


1/11/ 


t"  <-mrart  attention  fr 


iniencss.  ham 


ne: 


""Htain,- 


oni  lt^ 


nest, 


aluii: 


f'lin  !ii,it  tl 


'"  the  path  of  th 


"ic:  Its  tail  an,l  h< 


t»nl\- 


mil 


"-'  intrusion   had 


f   spectator 


;it  otl 


<o    o 


ff  a  fc 


vw   t 


|'i-()\-ed    I 


i.irm 


y  silent,  and  a) 


ee: 


utter  a   feel 


}'0!lni_r_ 

'Uyl  Unit, 

1'  r  times, 
'■ss,  tli( 


sometimes 
fin-  fccl^h- 


'\""i'H' other  speric.s  of 


most  instantly 


»le    (ompl. 


,  "hen 
bird    w 


cer- 


oiild 


int 


resimii 


or  rem; 


m 


V.ll    Mfhi 


s  mate, 


feed 


owan 


much 


th 
th( 


her 


alter 


'Ih 


l<ree 


t^'  male, 


■"'■s  a  little  th 


unl  o 


''itT  kinds. 
'lahitat   of  tl 


on  juicy  fniit. 


'-'lUl    ot    -,,, 


e  arn- 


m 


as  mul 


'n<T  the  V: 


'crriL-: 


voting 


cornel  berri( 


•e   present   f, 


■'•^'•'•'^''.ise  of  the  Rock 

-  ''■■■"•'''^'A  a  much  paler  race 


nrni 


is   not 


les 


"■est  ward 


ro 


(■Af'Tider!    ! 
"1  that  line  it 


'eyorul  the 
is  replaced 


224 


SINLiINU   J;iKDS. 


MAC.NDI.IA  \\\KI;I.I:R. 

IJLACK  .\\l)-Vi;i.L(»\\    w  ai<i;lkr. 

I  )i;\i)K(ikA  -M  \(  ri.iisA. 

CliAU.  Male:  1i;ick  lil.uk,  the  tiMllurs  rd'^rd  with  olive;  niiiip\i! 
low;  (.mwn  :i>li,  hnidcn-d  by  bl.ick  and  wliilf;  luiiia.lh,  rich  Vfliuw, 
tlii(  kly  s])(ittfd  nil  l)iH.i>l  and  siilcs  with  Mark:  \\in,n-bai>  and  lail-pati  lies 
wliilc.  I'Vnialc  :  similar,  but  colors  diilki,  and  b.ick  .sonii.'timt'.s  ontiixly 
oli\c. 

A'rs/.  On  a  liori/oiital  branch  ol  spruce  oi  lir,  usiiallv  ^  In  (>  |\ct  lii.ni 
tlu;  Ljround,  but  .-.uiin-tinifs  hij^lici  ;  made  of  twij;s  ami  i^rass,  lined  uuii 
fine  black  roots. 

/uxr.  4-15;  creamy  while,  >|Hjited  with  lilac  and  several  shades  ui 
l)rowii  ;  0.60  X  0.50. 

'ITiis  rare  and  heatiliful  s])L'ci(.'s  is  (M-cnsionally  seen  in  \rrv 
small  nunilKTs  in  the  Southern,  Midille.  and  Northern  States,  in 
the  s]irin,tj;  season,  on  its  way  to  its  Northern  l)reedin!4-])la(  r^. 
In  Massachusetts  1  have  seen  it  in  this  vicinity  about  the  nnd- 
(lle  of  May.  Its  return  to  the  St)Uth  is  ])rol)al)ly  made  through 
the  western  interior,  —  a  route  so  generally  travelled  hy  mo-i  of 
our  birds  of  passiLje  at  this  season  ;  in  conseciuence  of  \\hi(  h 
they  are  not  met  with,  or  but  very  rarely,  in  the  .Atlantic  Si  ites 
in  autumn.  In  this  season  they  have  been  seen  at  sea  oil' the 
island  of  Jamaica,  and  have  been  met  with  also  in  Ilisp mi  .li, 
whither  tlii^y  retire  to  pass  the  winter.  lake  all  tht- rest  of  the 
genus,  stimulated  by  the  unquiet  ])roi>ensity  to  migrate,  thcv 
pass  only  a  few  days  with  us,  and  ap])e;ir  jierpetually  emplcvcil 
in  inirsuing  or  searching  out  tht'ir  active  insect  prey  or  la;\  v: 
ami  while  thus  engaged,  utter  only  a  lew  chiri)ing  notes.  '\'\w 
Magnolia  has  a  shrill  song,  more  than  usually  protracted  on  the 
approach  of  wet  weather,  so  that  the  Indians  bestow  up'>n  it 
the  name  of  /ur///  Bird.  .According  to  .\ttdubon,  mai;.  <»! 
these  birds  breed  in  Maine  and  the  I'ritish  Provinces.  ,1-  \vt  11 
as  in  Labrador,  and  extend  their  summer  resident-e  to  the 
banks  of  the  Saskatchewan.  They  have  also  a  clear  antl  sweetly 
modulated  song. 

.Although  rare  in  the  United  States,  it  appears,  accordinj  to 
Richardson,  that  this  elegant  sjiecies  is  a  common  bird  ow  tb.e 


MA(.\<»1,1A    WAKlU.i; 


22  c 


;  rump 
icli  VI-' I 


l.iU 


.aul 


lUS 


.•lUllLlV 


li.llU 


^    U 


1"  the  Sask,U(lu\v:in,  wluTr  il  i>  as  taiuiliar  as  tlu'  cdiii- 


mo 


M  Sumim-r  W'llow  I'.inl  ( .V. 


</ir<i\ 


uiiK  h  It  also  rr:^t.'inl 


K'S 


hut  i>  ,uil'tr(l 
arii'd   and    a^L^rcrabk'    soii^.      ll    tVi.'(|iniil->    the 
thii  kris  (jf  \()unL(  si inicL'- trees  ami  willows,  tliitiiiLf  from  liran<  h 


( iiv^cly  in  lis  inaiiiu'rs  Mxa  iii  it:-.  l)n.'(.'(lin,u  station, 
with    a    morr 


til   I) 


r  iiu  li,  at   no  great  distance  from  the  ground. 


acti\el\'  cii- 


l''Cll 


in   tin-  capUire  of  winged  insects,  which  now  constitute 


n.  1 


irincip.il  tare 


()  u 


ft  li"m 


lUK'C 


1   sh:ul 


UlU' 


■ell  in  \'  rv 
n  States,  in 


ing-l 


,1a. 


t  the   u 
(le  ihn' 
1)V  nu)sl 


f  whi( 


mil 


e  o 


antic 


a  oil 


y\\\\ 


dis, 

'  rest  ot 
I'mrate. 


iinv 


•molovcu 


ox 
lote^ 


arv;\.' : 


Icted  on 
\ow  111 


till- 
>n  it 


.M 


iL'iiolia  is  not  so  rare  a  liird  as  Xuttall  siii)posr( 


mdcen 


rumn 


ion   everywIuTe   hctweeii    the   Athuitie   and    the    ea.^li  rn 


ol   the    Rockies,   hreedin^'  in   inirtluT'i    New    \. 


and 


and 


northern    portions  o 


t    i\ 


ew 


\ork.    () 


no,   and 


.M 


leliiuan.    .ir.( 


lluncc  to  l.aliiador  and  (Ireat  Slave 


l.aki 


III  .Massaehusetls  it  is  ehi 


.Ml 


111  ti 
nil  s 


\V 


illKiin 


iJr 


elly  a  spring;  .uid  autumn  \  isiidr,  tli(iiii;h 


ewsl',  r  I'ouud  a  tew  pairs  nesting  in   the    In  rk>l 


lire 


It  winti  rs  in  (.'eiitral  America,  Cuba,  and  the  1 


lanam.is. 


Its  ll 


ihils  this  bird  combines  the  Cnn-per  and   the  f'b  (  atcluT 


Warbler  tasi 


11(111,  pickiii;;'  insects  and    lai"\.e   tnun   tlir  LiMn- 


■  t  the  ba 
mites. 


rk  and  from  the  leaves,  and  i- 


ipluring  1)11  llir  w  inn'  the 


The    favorite    neslim''  site   is   tlu 


iorder  ot   ,1   w  iio( 


(ir  ,111  open   pasture,  though    1    ha\e   lound  nests  in  the  deep  Idlest, 
usuallv  on  the  ni.irgin  of  an  ()|)eii  i^lade. 


H'    SOUL 


IS 


W 


irblerdiki;   m    lis  smiphcitx'.   vet  is  an  attractive 


iiU'liiilv.  the  tones  sweet  and  musical. 

Niittall's  idea  that  the  autumn  mnte  of  mi^i'ation  taken  b\'  more 
nnitheni  breeding  birds  lies  somewhere  to  iht.'  westward  of  New 
I'.n^laiul,  is  not  consistent  with  more  recent  obser\ati<m  :  fur  \shile 
it  is  true  that  large  numl)ers  follow  the  \allev  of  the  .Mississippi.  — 
Sdiuc  nf  them  cr( 


)ssintf  to  the  .Atlanti;-  when   south  of 


iiii's.  — it   has  also  been  ascertained  that 
tl 


immense 


tl 


tli-ht 


.■    Alle-ha- 
s  of   birds 


t.i.it  liret'd  in  the  nitenor  <ro  southward  aloiiu:  the'coastdiu'. 


Manv 


siKcies  that  are  not  setai  in  New  I'.n^land 
tiea  .lie  abundant  in  the  autumn. 


(lurinL 


tl 


le  spring,  iuiLir;i- 


ll,    mail 


ices, 
lice 


a-  '^''■^'' 


to 


the 


ukI  sw< 


VI '1  .     I. 


'5 


:ordina'  to 


hm 


1  i>t 


tlio 


220 


SLNGINLi    151  RDS. 


CAi'i':  M.w  u.\ri;i,i:r. 

J)|,MiKi)U  A     I  H.KIW. 

CliAi;.  Male  :  lirick  ycllnw  ish  nWw,  wiili  (l.irki  i  spots  ;  crown  l)Iackish; 
cai-|i.ilLh  cliustiuit ;  liiiu  Imm  Iiill  armiinl  the  eyes  hhu  I.  ;  rimip  yellow, 
\vin,.',-l)ai>  uliite  and  fused  into  one  laii^e  pateli  ;  wliite  lilolilies  on  tliui. 
l)aii>  ot  lail-leatlier>  ;    lieneaili,  yellow   tin};ed   with  orange  on  <  hin   ,ii,tl 


iruat, 


tl 
bael 


)tted   with   lilael 


n    breast   am 


1   sidi 


I'Vinalc  :  siniihu, 


1;  grayish,  a 


nd  laek 


^tinetive  marking  on  head;  iiiuler  parts  jia 


I'lit 
i-r; 


sixUs  un  wings  and  tail  smaller  or  ol)senre. 


.\c../.       Ii 


1  a  past  me 


)|)en  woodkmd,  on  low  braneh  of  small  tree;  ;i 


neat,  eup-.>lia|ied  >trueture,  jjartially  pensile,  eomposed  of  tu  ig.-.  and  gi.i^s 
fastened  with  spider's  webbing,  lined  with  Iioim  hair. 


/•; 


wliite  or 


Iml'f 


V,  siiglille  s|ii.i  ke( 


and 


wre 


athetl 


;irouiul 


larger  end  with  s|)ots  of  brown  and  lilae  ;  0.70  X  0.50. 


'I 


lis 


\er\  r;ire'  W'aiMcr  li;is  oiiK  lu'eii  sci'ii  near  llir  s 


w;!  11  ins 


ol  Cajie'  May  by  I'.dward  llariis,  I'ImI- ;  near  .MouieslDWii,  in 
New  Je'isey  ;  and  in  llie  \i(inity  oi  I'hilailclphia,  al)()tit  the 
miildle  of  Ma\',  —  pfobaMy  as  a  slfaiii^ler  on  its  \\a_\-  to  some 
Northeni  bieedini;  iila<c.  Its  notes  and  further  liistory  are  yet 
nnknown. 


Since  Xtittall  wrote,  we  have  learned  a  httle  more  of  the  life  1 


ils- 


tory  I 
hal)it 
but  f 


)f  1 1 


lis  lea 


ihered  l)eaiit\-,  tlioimh  our   kiiowlediie  of  the 


iii'd  s 
1, 


s  IS  slill  \-er_\  limited.     So  rare  is  the  Inrd  that  examples  adorn 


ew  eo 


llect 


ions  :  vet  it  has  been  seen  oeeasionallv  tliroULihoii 


till 


lloll" 


J'-astern  States,  and  is  reported  bv  Thoni])son  as  "plenliliir 

the  Red  Kiver.  in  ^biiiitob.t.     It   has  been  traced  north  to  Hudson 

limit 


15 


IV.  and  south  (in  winter)  to  the  West  Indies.     The  southern 


of  its  bree-diiig-  area  is  j)robai)lv  about  the  45th  ])arallel,     'Hie  iicsl 


ins  neen   lounc 


1  bv  Mr,  II.  I').  I'.ailev  at  rinl)ai. 


ake.  in  .M.;iik-. 


aim 


Mr  lanu's  W.  P>anks  near  St.  John,  \.  B, 


lianks's  nest,  whicii  I   had  tlie  privileg,e  of  exainining'.  was  cnn; 
pletelv  hickleii  amid  the  dense  foliag,i' of  a  (lumi)of  ceihirs.  gro  viii. 


on  an  o|ien  In 


ll-sid 


e.  and  ciuite  close  to  a  much-used 


thor 


OUL 


•  IIV. 


When   liist  disiovered   it   was    unthdsiied,  and  the   female  w.s  ;U 
work  upon   it.     The  male  never  a])peared.  nor  was  lie  heard  i::  tl 
vicinity,  though   the  spot  was  visited  frequentlv.     After  four  i^C-- 
had  been  laid.  femaU'.  nest,  and  eggs  were  "gjathered," 

The  sjK'cies  had  not  been  oliserved  before  near  St.  John.  tlMim' 
Mr.  lioardman  had  reported  takings  examples  at  St,  Step]ien"s.  an. 
I  had  seen  several  at  Edmundston,  near  the  Quebec  border. 


iDWii  Mackisli; 
ninii)  yclli.w, 

ll(  Irn    (111    lIlH  L' 

'  <iii  (  hill  ,iiu| 
:  :  biiniliii',  Iik 
jr  parts  jialu  ; 

MiKill  trc(  ;  a 
vij;.s  and  t;i.i-s 

.'.'Ulicd  aioiiiul 


'-A.VADIA.N    UAK,;,.,;n 


I  111- Kclmiin.lsi,,,,  l,i„|.  ,„  ..  "^^^ 

l"">''l  I"  Ik  iri;,li.,        1     ,        '''  '"■''■'"  '"  ''■"■H  JlllK.  •„„1  „ 


X-  was  com- 
irs.  yriMviii;; 
orouglilaru. 
iialc  WmS  at 
icard  iii  tlk 
M'  foui'  il;u> 


^"^•\'.\/)J.\.\ 


H\ 


\\'.\Klif,/,-|<. 


.■IMlli,,!    (I 


■'^'xn'c,  hliiisl, 


'\A\I.\    ,\\ 


\i)i:\ 


^/s. 


IC    t  VL'> 


Ij.'.Ii 


iiiul 


"'Hit  aciu 


*-■'■  parts  \-, 


}'cl/u\v  ;  I 


ash 


<''"\vn  mail, 


iiie   /i,,iii   I 


la'd 


iiu 


I'l'MlI  of  r 


On  II 


ss  the  hr, 


low 


■isi ;  till 


Pitted  uitli  IjI 


'fiK'ath   the 


,"'■"'  '^J-^ck  ;  line  fn 


tl 


'^^■.  placed  oi 


.Uionnd, 


■^oinei 


'.'■"  'I'l-^potted.      I 


le 


eyes  I, 
-P"ts  /•,„ 


^idc 


■om  hill 


'f] 


n  S|( 


Witii  h 


:'■•'■•<»  and  ste 
whit 


)f  ni( 


iind 


ni.- 


liiied 


"/^■■^  near  border  „f 
.";■•••  ni<"i,!,Mi,,turncd 


•^"",i,'th  5  I, 


ISll 


I'ain  or 


'"'I'll,'-  a  I 
inci 


nvast 
iiie  or 


les. 


Ulill 


'lair. 


I  .1  ,   unite  or  eroTi,,,. 


rnotsofairee 


'y  a  moist 


nis  i 


■^  a  i\ir 


soiitl 


sllll 


'70  X 


iv.  ;i 


in  th 


'"I'f  I.ahrad 


L'  sjn-iiig  or  aiit 


50- 
'Pcric; 


y  a  roil 


n<l  the  lar-e 


coin- 


'•  end, 


■'■'  f'l^^  Atlantic  St 


or,  and  are 


"inn. 


'}-s  only,  on  th 


ate; 


'I'll 


nior 


"1  "ir  tn.j 


''*'"t^'  ''.v  ulnVh  tl 


■•-'  'i')iindaiu 


^•^^'  hiuls  breed 


I'assa.i^e  nortl 


il'pear- 


1  or 


t 


'""•  tribe. 


'K-al  recri 


lev 


"1  "fountain 


"1  r'anada 


lllM.Cf 


very  act 


s. 


'.'"■^'   •ire  then  sil 
'^■^'  in  durtin-  tl 


'■'"'•'P''"y  mi-rate.     Th 


^'"t,  and.  lik-c  t 


""■-^  interior, 
•-■>■  \^  inter 


•  \iidiil 


:-^  tlirou,t,di  the  I 


iL'  rest   (if 


"^"  ^oiind   th 


)ranches  aft; 


';''^-'fofthe  I'ok 


IS 


■'species   breed 


'Mti 


ll    J 


r()\-in 


'^""  in  I'ennsvl 


"l^^   in   the   G 


^v  m.te  in  tl 


if~t's.  and  / 


a  bra 


\'''^nia,  as  u-ell 


'feat   J' 


ine 


they 
la  (ire 


lia\ 


■<-■  a 
.^rott- 


le  .sprin^^r.  _^,^,j 


nor. 
in  th 


"hrv  h 


'■^  ni  ^raine,  the 


^  nicjiintain 


'ive  a  short,  unatt 


'>-'«-'.o„  f„„„;- j;™' 


rac- 


"^  uliert 


;n 


'  y  dwell 


•rders  of  streams  nh 


ere 


'J; 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


A 


<^    €^ 


1.0 


I.I 


II 28     11112.5 


^-    IIM     |||j|Z2 

12.0 


1.8 


1.25      1.4 

1.6 

^ 6"     — 

► 

; 


; 


i 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


s 


#^ 


^ 


V 


'^^ 


O 


^<b 


.V 


^ 


4^ 


^ 


X 


v 


v~.^'<^ 


%"■ 


<■>'■ 


A 


228 


SINGING   lilRDS. 


Tlie  Canadian  \Varl)lcr  is  common  during  the  migrations,  fmni 
the  Atlantic  tu  tiic  Mississippi,  and  tiiough  breeding  cliictly  nurlh  uf 
43^somc  pairs  nest  in  Massachusetts,  New  York,  southern  Ontario, 
and  Illinois.  It  has  been  taken  in  Labrador  and  is  commuii  in 
Manitoba.     It  winters  in  Central  America. 


YELLOW-THROATED   WARBLER. 

DkNDKOICA    DOMINICA. 

Char.  Ahovc,  gmyisli  ash;  forehead  and  sides  of  hcrid,  black:  line 
fiuiii  nostril  lu  hind  neck,  yellow;  wing-bars  white;  beneath,  velinwisli 
white;  chin  and  throat  rich  yellow;  sides  of  breast  streaked  with  li!,ij<. 
Length  4  '4  to  5  '4  inches. 

AVjA  In  an  ojjcn  grove  or  the  edge  of  heavy  woods,  on  top  of  hori/nntil 
branch  or  at  the  forks  of  a  lind),  or  '  concealed  in  pendant  moss,"  ::o  imjo 
feet  from  the  ground  ;  made  of  grass-weed  stems,  strips  of  bark,  and  nio.-s, 
lined  with  vegetable  fibre,  horse-hair,  or  feathers. 

''-vV-f-  3-5;  white,  tinged  with  green,  spotted  around  the  larger  cm! 
with  brown  and  lilac;  0.70  X  0.50. 

These  elegant  and  remarkable  birds  reside  in  the  \\'cst 
Indies,  and  also  migrate  in  considerable  numbers  into  ihc 
southern  parts  of  the  United  States,  particularly  Louisiana  ami 
Oeorgia,  whence  indeed  they  only  absent  themselves  in  the 
two  inclement  months  of  December  and  January.  'Ihey  are 
seen  in  I'Y'bruary  in  (leorgia,  but  very  rarely  venture  as  far 
north  as  Pennsylvania.  The  song  is  pretty  loud  and  agreeable, 
according  to  Latham  and  Wilson,  resembling  somewhat  the 
notes  of  the  Indigo  Bird.  In  the  tropical  countries  they  inhabit, 
this  delicate  music  is  continued  nearly  throughout  the  year. 
and  particijxUed  also  by  the  female,  though  ])ossessed  ot  in- 
ferior \ocal  ]H)wers.  The  l)ird  a];)])ears  to  have  many  of  the 
habits  of  the  Cree])ing  Warbler  (.V.  raria),  running  s]MrilIy 
around  the  trunks  of  the  pine-trees,  on  which  it  alights,  am! 
ascending  or  descending  in  the  active  search  of  its  insect 
fare. 

The  sagacity  displayed  by  this  bird  in  the  constniction  ami 
situation  of  its  nest  is  very  remarkable.     This  curious  fabric  i^ 


YELLOW-TIIROAII-n   WAKHLLR. 


229 


)ataviu. 
imun  in 


)lack  ■•  lino 
^  yell'  'wi>h 
^vilh  li'..i>li- 

[  horizontal 
;  largf-i-  cud 


the  NVost 
s  into  ilu' 
aisiana  and 
vcs   in  the 
l"hoy  arc 
iture  as  far 
\  agrocablo, 
mcNvbat  tli^' 
hey  inhabit, 
It  the  year, 
Icssecl  oi  in- 
many  of  tlio 
ining  spirally 
alights,  awl 
lof  its  In-^ct 


sii'^iiended  to  a  kind  of  rope  which  hangs  from  tree  to  tree, 
uiu.illy  depending  from  branches  that  bend  over  rivers  or 
ravines.  The  nest  itself  is  made  of  dry  bhides  of  grass,  the 
iilis  of  leaves,  and  slcn<ler  root-fibres,  the  whole  interwoven 
together  with  great  art ;  it  is  also  fastened  to,  or  rather  worked 
iiiui,  the  pendant  strings  made  of  the  tough  silky  fibres  of  some 
hpecies  of  I'.chitcs,  or  other  ])lant  of  that  family.  It  is.  in  fut. 
a  ^nial!  circular  bed,  so  thick  and  romjiart  as  to  ex(  hide  the 
rain,  left  to  rock  in  the  wind  without  sustaining  or  being  ac- 
( e>sil)le  to  any  injury.  'Ihe  more  securely  to  defend  this 
jMi  ( ious  habitation  from  the  attacks  of  numerous  enemies,  the 
opining,  or  entrance,  is  neither  made  on  the  top  nor  the  side, 
hilt  at  the  bottom  ;  nor  is  the  access  direct,  for  after  passing 
the  vestibule,  it  is  necessary  to  go  over  a  kind  of  jvirlition,  and 
through  another  aperture,  before  it  descentls  into  the  guarded 
al)0(le  of  its  eggs  and  young.  This  interior  lodgment  is  round 
and  soft,  being  lined  with  a  kind  of  lichen,  or  the  silky  down 
ot"  plants 

This  species  i.s  confined  chiefly  to  the  Soutli  Atlantic  States. 
thouu,h  occasionally  a  few  wander  to  New  \'ork.  Connectieul. 
and  Massachusetts. 

Null:.  —  The  .Svcamokk  Wakiu.kk  {P.  lioiiiiiiini  all'Hora) 
(liikrs  from  the  type  in  being  smaller  (knuth  4'j  tf)  5'<  inchc;>) 
and  in  having  the  line  over  the  eyes  white,  instead  of  yellow.  It 
(Krurs  along  the  Mississipjji  valley  and  eastward  to  Ohio,  where 
it  is  I'jmmon.  It  has  been  taken  also  in  Suutli  Carolina  and 
Florida. 


Istnirtioii  awl 
rions  fab'l'-  >' 


■■>ii'SA 


BLACK-THR().\ri:i)   CREEN   WARIUJ-.R. 

DkNUKoK  A     MRl-NS. 

Char.  Male  in  spring  :  above,  luiglit  olive;  line  on  sides  of  head  lich 
yellow;  wings  and  tail  dusky;  wing-bars  and  outer  tail-featliers  wiiite; 
beneatii,  white  tinged  with  yellow;  throat  and  chest  rich  black.  Male  in 
autumn,  female,  and  young  :  similar,  but  black  of  throat  nii.vcd  with  yclKv, 
sometimes  obscured. 

A^ix/.  On  the  liorder  of  heavy  woods,  in  fork  of  coniferous  tree  ^iii' 
50  feet  from  the  ground;  of  twigs,  grass,  etc.,  lined  with  hair  and  down. 

Jt^i^X""^.  J-4 ;  while  or  creamy  white  wreathed  around  larger  end  uiili 
spots  of  brown  and  lilac;  0.65  X  0.50. 

This  rather  rare  sjicries  arrives  from  its  tro|)ic;il  winter- 
quarters  in  Pennsylvania  towards  the  dose  of  .April  or  In  -in- 
ning of  .May.  .\bont  the  12th  of  the  latter  month  it  is  sim  in 
this  part  of  Massachusetts  ;  but  never  more  than  a  single  piir 
are  seen  together.  At  this  season  a  silent  individual  ma\  l»i' 
occasionally  obser\'ed,  for  an  hour  at  a  time,  careful!)'  and  u- 


BLACK-THROATED   GREEN   WARULER. 


I 


head  'icb 

i^^is  wnitc ; 

Malt-  ii> 

wilhvdl.'NV. 

IS  tri-i.-  ■    '■ 
rcr  eiul  will' 

a\  win'''- 
or  lu  _:!>• 
is  si'tii  m 

singU'  i'->if 

llv  anil  it;- 


tiw'Iy  scarchinc;  for  small  caterpillars  and  wingcil  inserts  amidst 
the  white  blossoms  of  the  shady  apple-tree  ;  and  ^o  inollen^ive 
and  unsnspicious  is  the  little  warbler  that  '  •  pursues  without 
alarm  his  busy  occupation,  as  the  spectator  wuhin  a  few  feet  of 
hill)  watches  at  the  foot  of  the  tree.  Early  in  October  these 
biitls  are  seen  in  small  numbers  roving  restlessly  through  the 
fun  >t,  preparatory  to  their  departure  for  the  South. 

Though  the  greater  part  of  the  species  probably  proceed 
farther  north  to  rear  their  young,  a  few  spend  the  summer  in 
the  Middle  and  Northern  States;  but  from  their  timorous  and 
retiring  habits  it  is  not  easy  to  trace  out  their  retreats  at  the 
jjeriod  of  breeding.  In  the  summer  of  1830,  however,  on  the 
8th  of  June,  I  was  so  fortunate  as  to  find  a  nest  o*"  chis  s|)ecies 
in  a  ])erfectly  solitary  situation  on  the  IJlue  Hills  of  Milton. 
The  female  was  now  sitting,  and  about  to  hatch.  The  nest  was 
in  a  low,  thick,  and  stunted  Virginia  juniper.  When  I  ap- 
priia(  hed  near  to  the  nest  the  female  stood  motionless  on  its 
edui-  and  peeped  down  in  such  a  manner  that  I  imagined  her 
t(i  lie  a  young  bird.  She  then  darted  directly  to  the  earth  and 
ran  ;  luit  when,  deceived,  I  sought  her  on  the  ground,  she  had 
ver\  expertly  disappeared,  and  I  now  found  the  nest  to  con- 
tain 4  roundish  eggs,  white,  inclining  to  flesh-color,  variegated, 
more  particularly  at  the  great  end,  with  pale,  purplish  jjoints 
(if  various  sizes,  interspersed  with  other  large  spots  of  brown 
and  blackish.  The  nest  was  formed  of  circularly  entwined 
fine  strips  of  the  inner  bark  of  the  juniper  and  the  tough  white 
fi'irous  bark  of  some  other  plant,  then  bedded  with  soft  feath- 
er>  of  the  Robin,  and  lined  with  a  few  horse-hairs  and  some 
>Kn(Kr  tops  of  bent-grass  {Ai^ros/is).  The  male  was  singing 
hi>  simple  chant  at  the  distance  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the 
nest,  and  was  now  nearly  in  the  same  dark  wood  of  tall  oaks 
and  white  pines  in  which  I  had  first  heard  him  a  fortnight  bc- 
f'U'.  This  simple,  rather  drawlin!,%  and  sf)mewhat  plaintive 
soni:,  uttered  at  short  internals,  resembled  the  syllables  'A'  i/e 
(rr//M-<i,  sometimes  /V'  t/rrisrd,  pronoimced  jiretty  loud  and 
slow,  and  the  tones  proceeded  from  higli  to  low.  In  the  inter- 
vals he  was  perpetually  busied  in  catching  small  cynips  and 


23^ 


SIN(ilX(;    lilKDS. 


otlKT  kinds  ot  flics,  keeping  up  n  smart  snapping  of  his  bill, 
almost  similar  to  the  noise  made  by  knocking  pebbles  together. 
This  (|u,iii)l  and  indolent  ditt)  1  have  often  lieard  before  in 
the  dark  and   solitary  woods  of  wist  i'ennsylvania  ;  and  1 


1V\\\ 


Ji,(l 


as  then.-,  it  afford,  an  agreeable  relief  in  the  dreary  silence 
gloom  of  the  lhi(  k  fiirest.  This  note  is  very  much  like  the 
<-.all  of  the  Chicadee,  and  at  times  both  are  heard  amicbt 
the  reigning  silence  of  the  summer  noon.  In  the  whole  di- 
trit  t  of  this  extensi\e  hill  or  momitain.  in  Milton,  there  aj)- 
peared  to  exist  no  other  ])air  of  these  lonely  Warblers  but  the 
present.  Anijlher  i)air,  howevi-r,  had  ])robably  a  nest  in  the 
vi(  iuitv  of  the  woods  of  Mount  Auburn  in  Cambridge, 
in  the  sjjring  of  the  present  year  (i-S^i  )  several  pairs  of  t! 
birds  were  seen  for  a  transient  period. 


Mill 


s  were  seen  for  a  transient  pe 
Xuttall  was  not  the  only  one  of  the  older  writers  who  cxpre 


SSrd 


le  ODUiion 


that  tiiis  and   otlur  sjiecies  of  the   family  were  ks^ 


ll 

abundant  than  more  modern  observers  have  found  them.     Wi 

and  .\udubon  made  similar  statements. 

This  Warbler  is  now  known  to  be  a  common  bird  thr 
lesu  Kastern   States,  and  mav  be  1 


son 


OUlilMill 


ounil,  \n  summer,  ui  anv  i 


th 

ferous  forest  in  Massachusetts,  and  thence  northward  to  tl;c  h;r 
countries  and  westward  to  the  jilains.  It  breeds  also,  sjiarinnly.  in 
southern  Xew  I'jigland,  northern  Ohio,  Illinois,  etc.,  and  wintir.- 
in  the  West  Indies  and  Central  America. 


BLACKP.URMAX    WARDI.KR. 

DkNI  >R<  >KA    lU.ACKllCRNI.K. 

Char.  Male:  .ibovc,  l)lack,b.ick  streaked  witli  wliitisli ;  sides  of  l;i.id 
black;  crown  patch,  line  over  eye,  and  entire  throat  and  breast  rich 
orani^e  or  flame  color  ;  belly  yellowish  white  ;  sides  streaked  with  M.iik. 
Im'^u  white  patches  on  wings;  outer  tail-feathers  nearly  all  ui-c 
Female  :  similar,  but  black  replaced  by  grayish  brown,  and  oran::!.'  I'V 
dull  yellow;  two  white  wint;-bars.     Length  5'4'  to  5  I2  inches. 

A\'sf.  Usually  in  coniferous  woods,  saddled  on  horizontal  liinb  oi  1  iiie 
or  lienihick,  :o  to  (O  feet  from  the  ground  ;  composed  of  twigs,  rooi>,  ii.d 
shreds  of  bark  niixeil  with  vegetable  clown,  lined  with  feathers,  hair  and 
down. 

/vv-f-  4  ;  white,  often  tinged  with  green,  spotted,  chiefly  around  lirL'c; 
end,  with  brown  and  lilac  ;  0.70  X  0.50. 


BLACKbLkMAN   WAKULLK. 


^35 


fore  in 

like  tlu' 

hoU-  iVi 
Iktc  av'- 
s  \)\\^  ll^^' 
L'st  in  tl"' 
i(\^o,  ana 
s  of  tlu^c 

)  cxpvess> i\ 
•  were  l'» 
11.     W'ilMiii 

in  any  ' "''» 
U)  tV.*--  ''•'■- 
;pavin;J}-  ■'> 
land  winuvs 


I'he  lilackburnian  Warbler  is  one  of  the  rarest  ami  niu^t 
bcautiuil  species  of  the  ,i,a'mis,  which  from  the  ist  to  the  i5lh 
of  May,  or  sometimes  later,  pays  a  transient  visit  to  tile  Middle 
and  Northern  States,  on  its  way  to  its  remote  iKjreal  phue  of 
i<  lirenient  for  the  i)reedint;  season.  It  is  still  more  rarely  seen 
in  the  autumn,  ai)OUt  tlie  niontii  of  Sepleml)er,  in  its  passage 
to  tropical  America,  where  it  winters,  as  may  be  presiuued,  from 
it>  c)((  urrence  late  in  autumn  about  \'era  C"ru/.,  according  to 
Ml  liuliock.  It  is  an  exceedingly  nimljle  insect- hunter,  keep- 
ing itnvards  the  tops  of  trees,  scarc:ely  uttering  even  an  audible 
chirp,  and  at  this  season  no  song  as  far  as  is  yet  kno\in. 

(Ml  llie  Magdalene  Islands  in  the  (Juif  of  St.  Lawrence,  in 
(line.  Audubon  remarks  that  lie  iieard  tiie  song  of  tliis  beauti- 
ful \vari)ler,  consisting  of  five  or  six  loud  notes,  wliicli  it  uttered 
fioai  the  branches  of  a  fir-tree  while  engaged  in  (|uest  <jf  its 
pixy.  'I'iie  nest  found  in  Xova  Siotia  was  made  externally  of 
coarse  materials  and  lined  with  silky  fii)res  and  delicate  ;trips 
(ii  'iirk,  over  which  lay  a  thick  bed  of  feativrs  and  liorse-hair. 
It  A, IS  found  in  a  small  fork  (jf  a  tree,  5  or  6  feet  from  the 
^f-iiind,  near  a  brook.  Dr.  Drewer  also  found  a  nest  of  tliis 
>lic(  ies  in  Massachusetts. 


sides  of  I'.^-'i'i 
ll  breast  iicli 
la  wiiU  M.x'^' 
llv    all   ^^l''"*^ 


lul  ov;uV- 


c  bv 


|l  limb  "I  1  ■">^, 

lier's,  hal'   ■""' 
Lound  1  a?cv 


'i'lic  very  rare  achilt  of  the  Ht-mlock  Warbler  was  found  by 
^\';l>)n  in  the  (Ireat  Pine  Swamp  in  Pennsylvania,  and  ap- 
I'lMtcd  to  take  iij)  its  residence  in  the  dark  hemiock-trees  of 
that  desolate  region.  It  was  very  lively  and  active,  climl)ing 
among  the  liranches  and  hanging  from  the  twigs  like  a  'l"it- 
ni  iii>e.  it  darted  after  flies  to  a  considerablt>  distance,  and 
li.ginning  with  the  lower  branches,  hunted  with  regularity  up- 
waids  to  the  summit  of  the  tree,  and  in  this  way  it  proceeded 
ver\-  illustriously  to  forage  through  tiie  forest  till  satisfied.  At 
iatervaih  it  stopped  an  instant  to  warble  out  a  few  low  and 
swei  I  notes,  jirobably  for  the  recognition  or  ccMiipany  of  its 
nii'.r,  which  the  discoverer,  however,  did  not  see. 

I  he  nest  of  this  species,  according  to  Audubon,  who  discov- 
fTcd  ii  in  the  Great  Pine  Swamp,  was  made  in  a  hemlock  or 


234 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


spruce  tree  at  a  considerable  e'evation.  Lichens,  dry  leaves  of 
the  hcinluck,  and  slender  twigs  formed  the  exterior  j  it  was 
then  lined  with  hair  or  fur  and  the  feathers  of  the  Ruffed 
(Irouse.  lie  afterwards  met  with  this  sjjecies  in  Maine  and 
Newfoundland. 

Nothing  is  more  remarkable  in  the  history  of  this  spetios 
than  the  rarity  of  the  adult  and  the  abundance  of  the  youiii,' 
birds ;  these  last,  which  we  have  long  known  as  the  Autunuial 
A\'arbl''r,  appear  in  gregarious  flocks  in  the  larger  solitary  for- 
ests of  Massachusetts  as  early  as  the  20th  of  July,  assembled 
fron;  the  neighboring  districts  probably,  in  which  lhe>  have 
been  reared.  They  remain  there  usually  until  the  middle  of 
October,  at  which  time  they  are  also  seen  in  the  Middle 
States.  They  feed  on  small  insects  and  berries.  Late  in  ihe 
season,  on  a  fine  autumnal  morning,  troops  of  them  may  i»c 
seen  in  the  fields  and  lanes,  sometimes  (les";ending  to  the 
ground,  and  busily  employed  in  turning  over  the  new  fallen 
leaves,  or  perambulating  and  searching  the  chinks  of  the  bark 
of  the  trees,  or  the  holes  in  the  posts  of  the  fence,  in  (juest  of 
lurking  moths  and  spiders ;  and  while  thus  eagerly  engaged, 
they  are  occasionally  molested  or  driven  away  by  the  niuro 
legitimate  Creepers  or  Nuthatches,  whose  jealousy  they  thus 
arouse  by  their  invasion.  Earlier  in  the  season  they  prey  u\\ 
cynips,  flies,  and  more  active  game,  in  pursuit  of  which  they 
may  be  seen  fluttering  and  darting  through  the  verdant  bouuhs 
of  the  forest  trees.  One  of  these  little  visitors,  which  I  nh- 
tained  by  its  flying  inadvertently  into  an  open  chamber,  midh 
became  reconciled  to  confinement,  flew  vigorously  after  house- 
flies,  and  fed  greedily  on  grasshoppers  and  ivy  berries  (T/'W 
hciiciacca^  ;  at  length  it  became  so  sociable  as  to  court  my 
acquaintance  and  eat  from  my  hand.  Before  I  restored  it  to 
liberty,  its  occasional  /7ivvV  attracted  several  of  its  companions 
to  the  windows  of  its  prison.  At  this  time  the  bird  is  (!■.  sti- 
tute  of  song,  and  only  utters  a  plaintive  call  of  recognition. 

Nuttall  followed  Wilson  and  Audubon  in  considering  the  young 
Blackhiirnians  a  different  species,  naming  it  the  "Hemlock  War- 
bler."    I  have  given  above  Nuttall's  account  of  the  two. 


CllKSTNLT-SIDKI)    WARIiLKK. 


235 


^es  of 
.t  was 

e  antl 

ipecics 

youni; 

itumnal 

;\ry  Ixr- 

L-y  have 

Middle 
te  in  die 
1  may  be 
^  to  die 
e\v  fallen 
the  bark 
n  ciuesl  of 
engaiicd, 
the  ni>'re 
they  thus 
y  prey  w'a 
•hich  they 
nt  houghs 
ich  I  <'h- 
iibcr.  >""" 
ter  house- 
s  {Cls^ii^ 
covin  my 
ored  'u  to 
nipani'>ii^ 
(\  is  dcsti- 
nition. 

the  vovuig 
liilock  War- 


The  IJlackburnian  is  rather  common  in  the  Athmtic  States  and 
\SL.ii\vard  to  tlie  I'hiius,  breeding  chieHy  nortli  ui"  45^,  and  sp.iringiy 
in  .Massachusetts  and  Connecticut.  It  winters  Ironi  the  liahamas 
ar.d  eastern  Mexico  southward. 

.Many  Canadian  observers  liave  considered  tlds  Warbk-r  rather 
rare,  l)ut  the  opinion  has  ijroI)ably  arisen  from  tlie  secluded  habits 
ui  the  bird  while  in  its  summer  liume.  It  sliows  a  ])reference  for 
ilie  liiyher  branches,  and  its  favorite  haunts  are  amid  the  deeper 
iuri.sls  where  the  pine  and  hemlock  flourish. 


CHESTN U'l'-Sl I )i:i )   WAR15I .1  :R. 
Dknuroica  pi:ns\  lvamca. 

Chak.  Hack  black,  streaked  with  ulive  of  j.;i.iyi-li  di  yellowish  tint ; 
ciown  yellow  ;  sides  of  head  while,  enclu>iiij;  a  patch  of  black  ;  sides  of 
iRck  and  entire  under  parts  white;  sides  streaked  with  chestnut,  which 
txiLiuU  (roiu  neck  to  llanks  ;  wing-bars  and  blotches  on  tail  white.  Length 
4  ,  1.1  5 '4  inches. 

.\,,.'.  Un  the  edge  of  an  ojien  woodland  or  the  margin  of  a  moist 
inculuw,  in  low  tree  or  bush;  composed  of  grass  and  strips  of  bark  fas- 
tciad  with  insect  silk,  and  lir.cd  with  grass  or  leaves  or  hair. 

/•.;:,,j.  4-5;  white  or  creamy,  spotted,  clii'tly  around  the  larger  end, 
\v'i:Kh  is.soiuetimcs  wreathed,  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac  ;  0.68  X  0.50. 

I  his  rare  and  beauiiful  Sylvia,  which  jirobably  winters  in 
iiupical  America,  appears  in  the  Middle  and  Northern  States 
early  in  May  on  its  way  north  to  breed  ;  it  is  also  seen  in  the 
!i|iring  in  Canada  and  arountl  Hudson's  l'>ay.  A  few  jtairs  re- 
maui,  no  doubt,  to  rear  their  young  in  secluded  mountainous 
situations  in  the  Northern  States,  as  on  the  2 2d  of  May, 
1 8^,0.  a  i)air  ai)peared  to  have  fixed  their  summer  abode 
n<Mr  die  summit  of  the  Blue  Hills  of  Milton.  'I'he  note  of  llie 
111  lie  was  very  similar  to  that  (jf  the  Summer  \\-\\ow  Bird,  being 
(mlv  a  little  louder,  and  les.,  whistling  :  it  resembles  '/s/i  '/,»// 
'/,,//  '/J1.VU1,  given  at  about  an  interval  of  half  a  minute,  and 
answered  by  his  mate  at  some  distance,  near  which,  it  is  proba- 
ble, there  was  a  nest.  He  ajjpeared  to  De  no  way  suspicious 
of  o!ir  ni)proach  ;  his  restlessness  was  subilued,  and  he  ([uietly 
s  11  n.  ar  the  same  low  bushes,  amusing  himself  and  his  consort, 
loi  in  hour  at  a  time,  with  the  display  of  his  lively  and  simple 


^;,6 


SlNCil.NX;    lURDS. 


ditty.  On  tlu'ir  first  arrival,  proNious  to  pairing,  these  bird. 
are  like  tin;  rest  of  the  genus,  restless,  and  intently  engaged 
in  the  (  hase  of  insects  amidst  the  l)lossoins  and  tender  leaver  ; 
they  likewise  pinsne  common  and  green  ])ottle  llies  with  avidin 
and  success.  On  the  jjih  of  June,  iSji,  I  observed  a  pair 
selecting  food  for  their  young,  with  their  usual  address  and 
activity,  by  tlu'  margin  of  a  bushy  and  secluded  swamp  on  tlu 
west  side  of  l'"resh  I'ond,  in  this  vicinity  ;  but  I  had  not  tin 
good  fortime  to  discover  the  nest.  I  have,  however,  sin(  e,  I 
believe,  (hscovered  the  nest  of  this  bird,  in  a  ha/el  copse  in  i 
wood  in  Acton,  in  this  State.  It  is  fixeil  in  the  t'orked  iwig^.  of 
a  ha/.el  about  breast  high.  The  fabric  i.s  rather  light  and  airy. 
being  made  externally  of  a  few  coarse  blades  and  stalks  n\ 
dead  grass,  then  filled  in  with  finer  l)lades  of  the  same,  tiic 
wholi;  malted  and  tied  with  cater])illar's  silk,  and  lined  wiiii 
very  slender  strips  of  brown  bark  and  similar  white-i)ine  lea\i>. 
It  appeared  to  have  been  fi^rsaken  before  its  completion,  and 
the  eggs  I  have  never  seen. 

In  the  woods  around  Farranville,  on  the  Sus(iuehaiin:i, 
within  the  range  of  the  Alleghany  chain,  '  i  the  month  of  M  ly, 
1S30,  I  saw  and  heard  several  males  in  full  song,  in  the 
shadv  forest  trees  bv  a  small  stream,  and  have  no  doubt  itf 
their  breeding  in  that  situation,  though  I  was  not  fortuiiiiti.' 
enough  to  find  a  nest. 

This  species  is  now  a  common  summer  resident  of  New  Kiiul.iiul 
and  the  settled  ijortions  of  Canada,  and  occurs  westward  td  tlu' 
Plains,  it  breeds  in  numbers  as  far  south  as  the  fortieth  paralM. 
and  regularly,  tliough  sparingly,  on  the  elevated  lands  snutliuinl 
to  (lc()r«jia,  and  I  have  louiul  tlie  nest  in  New   IJrunswick  north  ni 


latitude  47°. 
America. 


It  winters  southward  to  the  Bahamas  and  Ceiiii.i 


I!AV-DUEASTEU   WARULEU. 


1  *♦  — 

-0/ 


;e  \)iril 

■  Iciivc'-^ ; 
\\  avitlii\ 
a  a  I'.iii 
.rcss  anil 
\\)  on  Uu' 
I  not  tlu' 
,  simi',  I 
■opsc  in  .1 
(1  t\vi;j;>  "I 
.  anil  a  HA. 
stalks  "t' 
same,  t'ue 
lined  Willi 
)ino  leaves. 
)letion,  and 

isi\uehann;i. 
,Uh  of  May, 
)ng,  in  tli^' 
lo  doubt  of 
,t  fortunate 

ONV  Kn-land 
[ward  to  ilic 
iicth  pavnlli  1. 
Is  soutluvaril 
lick  north  I'l 
land  CeiUr.*'. 


UAV-i5Ri:.\s'ri:n  \vARr,i.i:R. 

Dknduoica   eASl.WI  a. 

C'lCAU.  Male:  back  grayish  olive,  strcakcil  witli  black;  forehead  and 
sides  of  head  black;  sides  of  neck  biiffy;  throat,  breast,  and  sides  chest- 
nut ;  remainder  (if  under  parts  Imtlish  ;  wing-bars  and  patclies  un  tail  wiiite. 
I-Vni.ile  .  .ibove,  olive  streaked  with  black  ;  beneath,  bully,  sides  and  breast 
tiii^nl  with  dull  rufous.     Length  5J^  to  6  inclies. 

.\',../.  In  an  o|iiu  woodland,  on  horiznntal  branch  of  coniferous  tree 
10  to  20  feet  from  tiie  ground  ;  of  twigs,  shreds  of  bark,  grass  roots,  and 
iiii>-~,  lined  with  fine  roots,  moss,  or  pine-needles. 

/■•V.-i-  3"^"  (nsually  4)  ;  white,  with  blue  tint,  or  blulsli  green,  spotted 
with  reddish  brown  ;  0.70  X  0.50. 

This  is  a  still  rarer  and  more  transient  visitor  than  the  last. 
It  arrives  in  Pennsylvania  from  the  South  some  time  in  April 
or  about  the  beginnini^  of  May,  and  towards  the  12th  or  15th 
of  the  same  month  it  visits  Massa(:husetts,  but  seldom  stays 
more  than  a  week  or  ten  days,  and  is  very  rari'lv  seen  on  its 
return  in  the  autmnn.  Audubon  once  observed  several  in 
Louisiana  late  in  June,  so  that  it  probably  sometimes  breeds 
in  very  secluded  i)laces  without  regularly  ]iri)eeedinu  to  the 
northern  regions.  It  is  an  active  insect-htuiter,  and  keeps 
mill  h  towanls  the  tops  of  the  highest  trees,  where  it  darts  about 
with  great  activity,  and  hangs  from  the  twigs  with  tltittering 
wiii^s.  One  of  these  birds,  which  was  woumled  in  the  wing, 
soon  became  reconciled  to  confinement,  and  greedily  caught 
and  devoured  the  flies  which  1  offered  him  ;  but  from  the 
extent  of  the  injury,  he  did  not  long  survive.  In  habits  and 
manners,  as  well  as  markings,  this  species  greatly  resembles 
the  preceding. 

This  Warbler  is  exceptional  in  beiiii::  more  abimdant  in  New 
Kngland  in  spring  than  in  autumn.  Mr.  Mcllwraith  reports  that 
the  same  rule  obtains  in  Ontario,  but  Dr.  Wheatoii  considered  that 
in  Ohio  the  birds  were  more  numerous  during  tiie  autumn;  and 
these  ai)parently  conflicting  statements  sug.gcst  an  interesting  phase 
in  the  cpiestion  of  migration  routes. 

The  bird  is  common  as  a  summer  resident  in  the  northern  por- 
tions of  Xew  England,  New  York,  and  .Michigan,  though  rather  rare 


238 


SINGING   IllKDS. 


in  New  Hriinswitk.  Quebec,  and  Ontario.  'Die  most  .soutlicrn  ])oint 
at  which  it  lias  oeen  fouiiil  l)iee(liii<j;  is  Chicarua,  N.  II..  in  lati 
tude  44',  where  Mr.  i'rank  i>oll(.s  oi)lained  a  n-'st  in  iSrp,  The  spe 
cics  ranges  north  to  Hudson  lia),  and  south  to  Central  America. 


BL\CK-POLL   \V.\R1}M:R. 

DkNDKOICA    SIKI.VIA. 

Char.  Above,  grayish  olive  tiiicldy  streaked  witli  bl.ici< ;  top  of  head 
black;  cheeks  and  entire  iind(.r  parts  white;  sides  streaked  with  black; 
wiiit;-bars  and  tail-patelics  white.     I.enj'lli  5J2  to  5*4  iiulits, 

.\',  t/.  In  an  evergreen  forest  on  low  brain  h  (sometimes  on  the  groimd  1  : 
of  j;rass,  roots,  twigs,  and  lichens;  lined  with  grass  covered  with  wliii., 
feathers. 

/..VV-f.  4-5;  white,  with  various  tints  (usually  pale  jiink  or  creamy  1, 
more  or  less  spotted  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac,  —  often  dark  brown 
am!  olive  gray  ;  0.75  X  0.55- 

'I'his  ratluT  common  and  widl-marked  species  is  obsened  lo 
arrive  in  lVnnsylv;uiia  from  the  South  about  the  20th  of  .\])ril, 
but  in  Mass;ichusetts  hardly  before  the  middle  of  May  ;  it  re- 
turns early  in  Se])tem])er,  and  a])i)ears  to  feed  wholly  on  insects. 
In  the  Middle  States  it  is  confined  chiefly  to  the  woods,  white, 
in  the  summits  of  the  tallest  trees,  it  is  seen  in  bus/  jntrsuil  of 
its  favorite  i)rey.  On  its  first  arrival  it  keeps  usually  in  the 
tops  of  the  majiles,  darting  about  amidst  the  blossoms.  .\s 
the  woods  become  clothed  with  leaves,  it  may  be  found  ])retty 
generally  as  a  summer  resident;  it. often  also  seeks  the  banks 
of  creeks  and  swam])s,  in  which  situations  it  probably  passes  thi' 
breeding  season.  In  this  vicinity  the  ])lack-])oll  is  a  familiar 
visitor  in  the  lowest  orchard-trees,  where  it  fee<ls  on  canker 
worms  and  other  small  caterpillars,  as  well  as  files  of  dilTeniu 
kinds,  etc.  At  this  time,  towards  the  month  of  June,  it  is  no 
longer  a  restless  wanderer,  but  having  fixed  npon  its  station  lur 
the  summer,  it  now  begins,  in  a  humble  way,  to  (bsplay  its 
musical  talents  in  the  cherished  and  constant  company  of  its 
fitithful  mate.  This  note,  uttered  at  inten-als  of  half  a  minute, 
is  like  the  sotind  of  A//'  tsh  tsh  tshe  tsJii',  from  low  to  high,  but 


itlic'rni)()iiu 
II..  ill  l;iti 
0.    The  s\)v 
America. 


'•^NK   \yMUiLEk. 


239 


,  top  of  head 
I  with  bhitk; 

tliv  gromuli  : 
:cl  witii  wliiu 

(II   cieaiuv  I, 
1  dark  Ijiowi: 


obsencd  lo 

)lh  of  A] nil, 
May  ;  il  rc- 
y  on  insects. 
)0(ls,  while, 
i_'  ])iirsuil  uf 
sually  in  the 
jssoms.  .\s 
found  pretty 
cs  the  banks 
ly  passes  tlu' 
s  a  familiar 
on  canker- 
of  differciu 
une,  it  is  no 
ts  station  fur 
)  displa\'  its 
npany  of  its 
ilf  a  minute, 
to  high,  but 


^ilfwc'llicr  50  shrill  a„,|  ,,      ,  ^■> 

ru,„  ,ili„K  „,■  ,  ,,„,     ,,,|,,^     -        ;   -.m,l  ..,l,„„„  lik,  ,„, 

\->lu„„,ll;„K|,    ac.:„r,li,„.    J  k"  ,'  '"  ""K^^"i".H,o 

!"•'<:  •^•..lubon  foun.l  ,1,0  „„  \    'l'   "'"-■   '"""'h   „f 

.i  i-l  fro,„  .1,0  t-roun.l.  i„  ,„,  f,       'f'^"'  '''^"^"^   ^'Ix^u. 
'"  "'■^  nmi„  „„„  „f  a  ,ir.,a.  '    .,  ''"'"  '''■""I'.  ^I"« 

"'""■  'n'^s  ami  li,i,c.„.s,  hu.ru-iv'  I ?' ,  ""'  "''  «■•'•"'  ^""1 
""'""  "•-  »•-  a  byer  o,'  be,  .:,""'  '"•"-■  ''"-'  «"»»  ; 
";,"'-.  '"..k.l  like  l,„r.sc.-  a?       ;,"""«■  ""l-k-colua..| 

J-  '  •  Nonis  t„ok  a  nunihcT  of  ,1         '^f'  ^^'kile,,   Island,,  and   M 
"'""'^^•"■'1  to  the  IJ-invn  r      "'?''•''""  'i'-md  .M,,,an       /,  ' 

"-'-•.,  South  a'::;^:  ^^^^-'^  -^^'  to  .^aska,  z  1;:;^- 


PIN'R  ^VARlir.KK. 
De.vdk,,ic.a  \-I(;.,k,„. 
'^"^R.     Above,  olive  ;  beneifh  v  n 

;"-''"»   migrations  to        '  ^^t.s   ""'   '■^"'''"-'''  "-Kb 

""-  ">  Pennsylvania  at  the  dot  o,-     ^■"'■""'""-"'■     L 

;^r"  ■  ■■'"d  soon  after  is  seen  ta^n     '"'"'' ""'  '"■.=-'"""..,?  "f 

'        "nicn  It  principally 


240 


SLNGINU   BIRDS. 


resides.  Uoth  the  old  and  young  remain  with  us  till  nearly  the 
close  of  October;  stragglers  have  even  been  seen  in  nud-wm- 
ter  in  the  latitude  of  43°.  In  winter  they  rove  through  tlie 
pine  forests  and  barrens  of  the  Southern  States  in  companies 
of  20  to  50  or  more,  alighting  at  times  on  the  trunks  of  the 
trees,  and  attentively  searching  them  for  lurking  huvx,  but  ,nv 
most  frcipiently  employed  in  capturing  the  small  insects  whirh 
infest  the  opening  buils  of  the  pine,  around  which  they  ma\  he 
seen  peri)etually  hovering,  springing,  or  creeping,  with  restli^s 
activity  ;  in  thi^  way  they  proceed,  from  time  to  time,  foraging 
through  the  forest ;  occasionally,  also,  they  alight  on  tiie 
ground  in  quest  of  worms  and  gridjs  of  various  kinds,  or  dirt 
irregularly  after  hovering  tlies,  almost  in  the  manner  of  the  1  1\- 
catciiers.  In  these  states  they  are  by  far  the  most  numerous  uf 
all  the  Warblers.  In  the  month  of  March  they  already  Ix.g.in 
to  show  indications  for  pairing,  anil  jealous  contests  endued 
per[)etually  among  the  males.  The  principal  boily  of  the  spe- 
cies jirobably  remain  the  year  round  in  the  Southern  foi\  >is, 
where  I  saw  them  throughout  the  winter ;  great  number^,  are 
also  bred  in  the  Northern  States.  In  summer  their  food  i-  tlu" 
eggs  and  larva;  of  various  insects,  as  well  as  flies  or  cyiiips. 
caterpillars,  coleoptera.  and  ants.  In  autumn,  the  young  iVi.'- 
quent  the  gardens,  groves,  and  orchards,  feeding  likewise  mi 
berries  of  various  kinds,  as  on  those  of  the  cornel,  wild  gnin'. 
and  five-leaved  ivv  ;  at  this  season  thcv  are  verv  fat,  and  tl\  niii 
forage  in  fimilies.  'I'hev  now  only  utter  a  shrill  and  i)laiiitivc 
chip.  1  have  had  a  male  I'ine  Warbler,  domesticated  f"i  1 
sliort  time  ;  he  fed  gratefullv.  from  the  instant  he  was  car.^ht. 
u]i()n  flies,  small  earthworms,  and  minced  flesh,  and  w:i->  so 
tame  and  artless  as  to  sit  contented  on  every  hand,  iivi 
scarcely  shift  himself  securely  from  my  feet.  On  offering  him 
drink  he  walked  directly  into  the  vessel,  without  using  the 
slightest  precaution  or  exhibiting  any  trace  of  fear.  His  /-//.> 
and  manner  in  all  respects  were  those  of  the  Autumnal 
Warbler. 

The  song  of  the  Pine  Warltler,  though  agreeable,  amid>i  the 
dreary  solitude  of  the  boundless  forests  which  he  frecjuents.  \v^> 


T'-VE   WARIJLLk. 
k"!  little  com|«ss  ur  varietv  .  '"*' 

.-"'Ir  -si....,  or  ..„.r,„„H„,,l,,'    ""'"-"b'  ='  -vcrix.n.ti,,,, 

■''"  v-.;/-  v./,  V.V  v..  v.,  vt:  V ; .  :,;;■;■■•■;  ™'' -"'^■■™"  "^^' 


tl 


^'^  ''  'I'-tancc,  is  not  uni>l 


pipe  ( 

.■nil!  inn 


unpleasant,  as  the  1 


•h.  thon<rh  rather  fc 


"-^^^-t  Of  the  sun;; 
'^-ccntly  fearless  through  th 


ittl 


^'  minstrel  tun 
y,  nJn'le  he  t] 


el)le 


i">   Ins 


It 


^•-l-"-mper,)etual  ,,uest  of  I 


^'  -shady  bou-hs  of  th 


s  gent 


COMU 


nonly  heanl  at 


neM.  from  whom  he  of 


'  considerable  .h' 


"s   untiring  prey,     'j'h 


\;irie: 


nner  th 


IS 


't'  b 
from 


l<-'n  widely  str, 


istanee   fn 


"om  h 


'y 

<-'  pine  or 

i-s  song  is 

'■'^  niate  and 


precarious  j.ursm't. 
slc'i^-<Ier  to  high  or  ], 


.A 


'-,'•  •"■c-^^rding  to  the  suc- 
'^"   ^'.""Kl    of  the  u.rbk 


s    th 


^"  lU'.ir  with  tl 


c' retreat  of  the  little! 


?'  '^^'"'"l^'tion  of  his  ahnosi 


''''>  "  i-s   often  dif/i,.„i 
"'T  musician,  uhich 


t  to  ,1 


is- 


■male  likewise  t 


^  »"v  tone,  almost  like  th, 


mies,  at  t 


ventril()( 


mie; 


''I 'pears  fir 
pious  note. 


iiO 


'!(.•(    IC 


'lit  th 


■^ina\-irgini 


:'t  of  the  \ 


'^^T  more  slender  1, 
'''fo<r,  in  carh 


y  m 


it\. 


It  the 


7t'^  of  June,   1850,   I 


y  -spruu 


•"■'*<"overed    a   ii-.-st 


of  th 


is 


'^"•'y''xed  in  the  upright  tw 


'ns  \i{in- 


,'round 


nin. 


'"^  very  neat ;  the  principal 


'S^  of  a  close  branch.     Th 


It 


uas 


■^^^"'^  "f'  the  slender  knot 


pal  material  was  th 


"^'^■'■'^"-■c^<l,  and  connected 


•"•^e.I  (/?./,;,. v„,^,,,  ^ 


c  nest 
<^  \virv  old 


S0!)1(.   s 


^Peces  Of  ./.v-V/,,,,  ,„,,,,, 
'"■'l'.^  H-as  made  of  a  few  hog's  1 


externally  with  n.u-h  1 


''^/^'■),  rircularh 


ended  w 


niy   fibrt-,  ^,{ 


'''      ^<>hm^S   l->rr.o..- 


if'i  eaterpillar's  web 
"•istles,  slemier  root-fibres 


'"n's  breast 


of 


a  curious  medlev,  but 


■«,  an.loue  or  two  feathers  of 


"•■^'■mth  and  shelter  for  th 


answerin^r  () 


rV'' "^^'^^^e  nests,  which  1 
.ground,  and  in  all,  th 


to  th 


v.vrf 

rniii 

niith 


th 


e  same  as  in   th 


It  diff 


e  wn-\-  n-ras.- 


e   evpeded  brood.      I 
'ereiit  times  been  th 


le 


a  IK 


''':  '■'  entirely  different  fro 


e  one   now  d 


saw 
rown 
general  material 


escribe- 


:ind    tl 


on 


'^v  <^>f  ^fr.  Abbot.     Th 


...nu  .    and    tins, 

'"^  t'lat  given  bv  Wilson  on  tl 


'"'^^e  th  in  the 


e  nest  there  mentioned 


l\va 


trh 
\''»L.  I. 


I  or. 


''^"al  pendulous  fabric  „fth 


le 


IS  nothinjr 


Th 
16 


Red-eye(n\-arbl 


"-'  ^SS''-  '"n  ours  were  j    i.vi   ^  1     '      , 
"-'e  4,  and,  advanced 


mt 


towards 


242 


SI.NUING   BIRDS. 


hatching,  they  were  white,  with  a  slight  tinge  of  green,  wrv 
full  of  small  pale  brown  si)ots,  somewhat  more  numerous 
towards  the  larger  end.  where  they  ajjjjear  connected  or  aggic- 
gateil  around  a  jjurplish  ground.  'I'he  female  made  some  little 
com})laint,  but  almost  immediately  resumed  her  seat,  though  2 
of  the  eggs  were  taken  away;  the  male  made  off  immediately, 
and  was  but  seUlom  seen  near  the  place. 

Tlie  Pine  Warbkr  is  a  common  summer  resident  of  New  ]  j ,-- 
land,  but  I  seldom  saw  it  in  New  Brunswick,  and  can  find  no  e\  i. 
dence  of  its  occurrence  in  Nova  Scotia.  Mr.  Neilson  tliinlo  it 
uncommon,  and  only  a  migrant  in  the  vicinity  of  Quebec  cit\.  and 
Mr.  .Mclbvraith  makes  a  similar  report  for  Ontario.  It  winters  in 
the  Southern  States. 


PR.viRii:  w.\ri5Li:r. 

DkNURoK  A    DISCOLOR. 

Cir.\R.  Above,  olive:  back  witli  patcli  of  red  spots;  forehead,  line 
over  the  eves,  uing-b.us,  and  entire  under  parts  rich  \ello\v  ;  bhicic  stuak 
on  sitles  of  liead  ;  sides  spotted  with  lilacl<  ;  3  oiUt.r  tail-feathers  widi 
broad  patches  of  white.     Length  ('2  tn  5  inches. 

Xrs/.  In  open  woodland  or  old  meadow,  on  small  tree  or  bush  ;  ncatlv 
and  compactly  made  of  grass  and  vegetable  fibre  lined  with  haii  ur 
feathers. 

AvV*'  4-51  white,  spotted  around  larger  end  with  brown;  0.63  X 
0.47. 

'I'hese  birds,  rare  in  the  .Atlantic  States,  ap]')ear  to  be  some- 
what more  common  in  the  solitary  barrens  of  Kentucky  imvI 
the  open  woods  of  the  Choctaw  country.  Here  they  prefer  liu 
open  i)lains  thinly  covered  with  trees:  and  without  betr;i\ in.' 
alarm  at  the  visits  of  a  spectator,  leisurely  jnirsne  their  se:in  h 
for  cater[)illars  and  small  llies,  examining  among  the  leave-  or 
hopping  among  the  branches,  and  at  times  descending  i':-  I'v 
near,  and  familiarly  examining  the  obser\'er,  with  a  confi<h  ik  c 
and  cariosity  seldom  witnessed  in  these  shy  and  rctiiii.; 
si)ecies.  Such  was  the  conduct  of  a  male  bird  in  this  vi(  iiiity, 
on  the  4th  of  June,  whom  I  discovered  by  his  slender  liliiiL' 
notes,  which  were  utteretl  every  half  minute,  and  like  tho>c  of 


PKAIKIE  WAR15L1:K. 


^45 


en,  very 
jmcriius 

ime  Ih'ilc 

iciUalcly, 

Sew  I'.nu- 
u\  no  L\i- 

L-  cUy.  aiul 
\vinlcr>  in 


)rcheacl  line 

black  stu.ik 

ifcallK-is  wiih 

bush  ;  iit.uiy 
Iwilh   lui'ii    "V 

Own  ;  0.63  X 


tht'  l>la(:k-poll  Warbler  rcscniblcd  the  suppressed  syllables  V.v// 
'/^//  '/.</i  '/s/i('(r\  beginning  low,  and  gradually  growing  louder. 
li,i\  ing  nearly  the  same  slender  whisti  as  that  species,  though 
Miinewhat  stronger.  The  pair  were  busily  engaged  collecting 
tlics  and  larvrc  from  a  clump  of  young  locust-trees  in  the  wocjds 
n\  Mount  Auburn,  and  occasionally  they  flitted  among  the 
\irginian  junipers;  the  familiar  visit  of  the  male  appeared  for 
the  jHirpose  of  discovering  my  intentions  near  the  nest,  about 
which  lie  was  naturally  solicitous,  though  he  made  his  a]>- 
|)ioaches  with  the  appearance  of  accident,  'i'he  female  was 
more  timid  ;  yet  while  I  was  still  engaged  in  \iewing  this  little 
interesting  and  secluded  pair,  she,  without  any  i)rccaution  or 
(uuccalment,  went  directly  to  the  nest  in  the  forks  of  a  low 
h.irlierry  bush  near  by,  and  when  there,  she  sat  and  looked  at 
me  some  time  before  she  removed.  She  made,  however,  no 
pretences  to  draw  me  away  from  the  s])ot,  where  she  was  sit- 
ting on  4  eggs,  of  which  1  took  away  2  ;  her  a])])roaches  to  the 
nest  were  now  more  cautious,  and  she  came  escorted  and  en- 
couraged by  the  presence  of  her  mate.  Two  eggs  were  again 
siion  added,  and  the  young  brood,  1  believe,  reared  without 
any  accident. 

Tile  nest  was  scarcely  distinguishable  from  that  of  the  Sum- 
mer \'ellow  liird,  and  cpiite  different  from  the  nests  described 
])v  Wilson  and  Audubon.  ]\Iy  opportunity  f(jr  examination, 
so  long  continued,  seemed  to  preclude  the  possibility  of  error 
in  the  investigation  ;  neither  can  1  comjtare  the  slender  note 
iif  this  species  to  any  i^'liiniih^  sound,  wlii-li  would  more 
ni  irly  api)roach  to  the  song  of  the  l^ine  Warbler,  'i'he  I'rauie 
W  nliler  visits  Cambridge  about  the  first  or  second  week  in 
Miy.  and  according  to  the  obser\'ations  of  my  friend  Mr. 
Codper.  is  seen  probably  about  the  same  time  in  the  vii-inity 
of  New  \'ork  in  small  numbers  anil  in  pairs,  and  nlires  to 
winter  in  the  West  Indies  about  the  middle  of  September. 

'Ihis  species  is  now  considered  common  in  Massachusetts, 
thnii^h  it  has  not  been  taken  farther  northward.  It  occurs  in 
Oliifi  and  in  Michitran.  but  not  in  Ontario.  It  winters  in  south- 
ern  Florida  and  the  West   Indies. 


PARULA   WAR15LER. 

BLUE-VEI  LOW- BACKED    WAKIiLEK. 
CuMrSOlHLVPIS   A.MEKICANA. 

Char.  Male:  above,  bright  ashy  l)liie,  an  olive  jiatch  on  theba^k: 
throat  and  breast  yellow,  a  patch  of  rich  brown  on  the  breast ;  liLily 
wiiite  ;  winj^s  with  2  broad  white  bars;  white  ])atches  on  inner  weli  of 
outer  tail-feathers.  Female :  similar,  but  colors  duller  and  the  patche-  I'li 
back  and  breast  obscure  or  absent.     Length  4'j  to  .\-)^  inches. 

A'ts/.  In  moist  woodland  or  on  border  of  swamp;  usually  in  a  bum  h 
of  "beard-moss"  (iism;!)  hani^ing  from  the  trunk  or  branch  of  a  tree  10 
to  40  feet  from  the  ground,  and  composed  of  threads  of  the  moss  and  line 
grass  or  hair  comiiactly  woven;  sometimes  linctl  witli  ])ine-nccdie>  nr 
hair. 

■^'AX^-  3~7  (usually  4);  white  or  creamy,  thickly  sj^otled  with  several 
shades  of  reddish  brown  ;  0.65  X  0.45. 

This  remarkable  species  visits  the  Micldle  and  Xorthirn 
States  about  the  ist  to  the  15th  of  May,  and  is  seen  ai,Min 
early  in  October  on  its  way  to  the  West  Indies  (St.  Doniinu'o 
and  I'orto  Rico),  whither  it  retires  at  the  approach  of  winter. 
A  few,  according  to  Catesby,  pass  the  whole  year  in  Sonth  (  ir- 
olina.  It  is  very  abtmdant  in  the  summer  in  tlie  woods  of 
Kentucky,  is  active  and  restless  on  its  first  arrival,  and  fre- 
quents the  summits  of  the  highest  trees,  being  i)articul,iiiy 
fond  of  the  small  caterpillars  and  flies  of  various  kinds  whi'h 
are,  in  the  early  part  of  spring,  attracted  to  the  open  blossoms 
and  tender  shof)ts.  It  also  possesses  in  some  degree  the 
creeping  and  prying  habits  of  the  Titmouse,  to  which  genu-  it 
it  was  referred  by  Linnneus  and  Pennant.     Entering  the  south- 


BLACK-TIIROATKI)   BLUE   WARIJLKR. 


on  the  buck : 

breast;  belly 

11  iiuici-  well  lit 

the  putche-  "U 

les. 

lily  in  a  buiKh 

:h  of  a  tree  lo 

moss  and  Hiic 

ine-ncc(llc>  "r 

tl  with  several 

Id  NortluTH 

seen  ajiain 

^t.  Doniiii;-" 

[h  of  winter. 

South  ( ■  n- 

JC    \VOO(l>    111 

lal,  ami  iVo- 
])artirtilirly 

Ikinds  whii  h 

•n  blossoms 

,(lci;rco   ilio 

|ich  genu-  it 

the  sotith- 


ern 


extremity  ol"  the  Inion 


])>•  the  first  approach  of 


IS 


now  seen  searchin-  for  its  insect  food  on  shrtibs  and  dI 


245 

prinLj,  it 


ill  'iiuisi  places,  by  the  borders  of  lak 
VI  inity  it  is  not  common  ;  btit  as  it 


-^:d   of  May   in    the 


Milion,  it  must  undoubtedly  breed  there, 
I'he   notes   of    this   species   rcscmbi 


ints 

es  and  streams.      In  this 

was  singinij;  as  late  as  the 

oody    solitude    of   the    l!lue    Mills    of 


Warbler  in   some   respects.  thouL,^! 


e   those   of   the    Prai 


rie 


tones,  rising  from  low  to  hi'dt. 


1   Mifficiently  different ;    the 
are  rather  weak  and  insii/nificant. 


Ill  Xuttall's  (lay  this  dainty  bird 


was  named  "  rartv-eolored  Wai 


>■  and-hinch  Crcei)er."  It  is  now  consi.kred'a  rather  com- 
mon summer  resident  in  Massaciu.setls  and  Connecticut,  and  breeds 
nortlnvard  to  the  Gull  of  St.  Lawrence.  Tiie  nests  luuc  been 
found  also  in  northern  Ohio  and  .southern  Illinois,  and  in  winter 
the  „rds,an,i.e  throned,  southern  Florida  and  ainon^  the  moie 
ni  lit  hern  West   Indies. 

',''"■  I'T^'t  ■■■V^r"*-"'''^^^'''  '■"  '">•  '""Hi  with  secluded  woods  on 
cool  and  shaded  h.Il-sides  bordering  a  stream,  and  the  .son,^  comes 
o  me  trom  amid  the  top  branches  of  ,all  trees.  -  birch  and  poplu- 
It  1.  an  attractive  .son.o-,  though  it  has  little  theme.  _  merelv  a 
'•api'l  trill  of  s<.me  twenty  .sibilant  m.tes  delivered  with  a  rising' in- 
tiec  tion  :  hut  the  tones  are  sweet,  and  the  effect  is  pleasin<^  The 
-son-  IS  clearly  an  outburst  of  joyous  emotion. 


IJLACK-THR()A'ri;i)   lil.LK  UARIil.KR. 

DkM )R( )IC.\    C.KRfM'SCKNS. 

'•"\l<.     Male:  above,  dull  blue.  b,icl<  sometimes  streaked  with  black  ■ 
■••-;  -1    head,  thnat,    and  che>t  rich  bl.aek  ;  remainder  of  under  parts 
•d,:''  '   ,    "'^.'''"'  ,""  ^^"'.'^;    ^=>il   ^vith   lar.ue   white   blotches.     Female: 
c,  .d,      V;^''=    heneath.dull   ,rccni>h  ^dl,lw ;    white  spot  on   win, 
i.cn.-ih  3  to  5'2  inches. 

■^    .'.     In  deep  woods  amid   thick   underbni>li  or  ,,,1   hi^rl,   I„.i,ich-  of 
a.'l  h;'in  "''  """"''  """'  ""'""'•  ''•"'"""''  ^"'''^  '"-^'^f  ^'"-  'i"^^l  "i^'"  '-'^'"s 

vvithio-V  n^l  ".'''^'';  T'"'  ^'■''"  "•■  ''"'"^  ""*•   "f^-^n.^vhen  fVesh,  tinqcd 
"'.^^,  marked  with  large  >p.,ts  of  rcd.li.h  h.nwn  ;  o.;o  X  0.50. 

J>r  this  uncommon  species  we  know  verv  little.     It  appears 
'^"1}  as  a  transient  visitor  in  the  month  (dWpril,  in  the  Mid.lle 


246 


SINGL\(i   IMRDS. 


States,  and  after  staying  to  k'iji]  l(i)r  a  week  or  ten  days,  it 
proceeds  to  its  northern  breeding-place  in  the  wilds  of  Canada, 
of  which  we  are  wholly  ignorant.  In  November  1  have  ob- 
ser\e(l  a  few  on  their  return  to  the  South,  and  according  to 
\ieillot,  they  winter  in  St.  Domingo  and  other  of  the  larger 
West  India  islands. 

Near  I-'arranville,  on  the  Suscjuehanna,  within  the  range  nf 
the  Alleghany  Mountains,  in  the  month  of  May,  I  saw  .iiid 
heard  several  pairs  of  this  rare  species  in  the  shady  hemlixk- 
trees.  The  males  were  uttering  their  slender,  wiry,  and  \vr\ 
peculiar  notes,  while  busily  engaged  in  foraging  for  insc(  ts 
and  seemed,  by  being  i)aired,  to  i)repare  for  incubaticn. 

The  i'ine  Swamp  \\'ari)ler  (Sv/rA/  s/^Jid'^noso)  is  now  consid- 
ered only  as  the  young  of  this  species,  of  which,  however,  1 
think  there  yet  remains  some  doubt. 

The  history  of  this  species  need  no  lonc;cr  remain  a  mystery,  lur 
while  not  abundant,  its  nesting  habits  may  be  studied  in  any  suita- 
ble locality  in  New  ICngland  or  northern  New  \'ork,  or  alon^  the 
higher  altitudes  of  the  Alleghanies  as  fir  down  as  (leorgia  ;  tlionuli 
the  major  ])oiti()n  of  the  flocks  pass  on  to  the  Canadian  faunal  area 
before  stopping  to  build. 

fdid  not  meet  with  many  exatnples  in  New  IJrunswick.  and  .Mr. 
Xeilson  thinks  it  rare  near  Quel)ec  city :  but  .Mr.  Wintle  call>  it 
common  near  Montreal,  and  tlie  Ontario  observers  also  regard  it 
as  conuiion.     It  winters  in  Florida  as  well  as  in  the  West  Indies. 


KEXTLT KV  WARr.I  J-.R. 

(b'.O'IIII.VIMS    FORMOSA. 

Char.  Above,  olive;  crown  and  sides  of  head  and  neck,  black  ;  line 
from  nostril  to  and  around  ihc  eye  yellow;  beucatii,  yellow,  tlie  ."iilcs 
shaded  with  olive.     Length  5.'2  to  5 '4  inches. 

.Wsf.  On  the  ground,  in  rather  thick  woods  ;  a  bulky  affair  of  lonscly 
laid  leaves  andgrass,  lined  witli  vegetable  down,  roots,  or  hair. 

Eiixs.  4-6  ;  white  or  creamy,  si)otted  with  lilac  and  several  shades  of 
brown;  0.7J  X  o  56. 

This  beautiful  species,  first  described  by  Wilson,  frcqui  nts 
the  dark  forests  of  the  southwestern  parts  of  the  Union,  beiatr 


^KKLLEAX  WAKVA.KR. 


"'  ;'^""''  ^^'-''-^  ^'n-J  the  ,lcso     ,         r''"'"'     ^^   '■^^•'"'^■'"•^ 
"^"■^'-■^'»  '^-nucky     bc^      ,/":''  ^^  ^'-  ^--t    .-.vers 

"•"-^    ^-nitc!  States.     TIk  ,     |  :/^'  '^■'''^•'''''^■'- -''>-  -nth 

.^'''^^-      It  is  ,na.Ie  of  the  dry      .r  n  '  7  ''''"■^'   '"  ^'  ""■'  <"• 
"''''^'^^•">--'-t''-cs,a„l      ',;^'"^'^^''-^'-^ 

'"  -^'Tth  (  arolina.  ^       ''  '^  ''''''''^y  ^^'^own  to  tl.c  ca.t 

••  '--il'n/nw  J"^;;';^''''''  "'^  ''^^'''^^^  ^^  >'-  species  is     • 

\   u    [■„   1  -^t'ltes,  west  lo  the    i-|,|„,         -N't-^'^^  i.s  >iivcn  as 

;^;H    I.  ..land  and  soutlK.-n    .Mich   ■•  „         '  ""'■"'  ">  •^•"■thern 

'""' (^^•"ti-al  America  •'     ff  ;         ""'^•"'-      '''  winter.  WVs,    r,,  i- 
vallev.    ami    has     ,  ""•'^  ahundant  alo,,--  ,|'    V,      .  "'''^■■" 

.     "'HI    lias    ijeeii    seen   Iinf   ,•,,•  1  -^  ""-    •^''■'^s  ssinni 


ci::Rrj,r:A\ 


^^•ARm.ER 


niA-r:  uariuj: 


I)i 


■kv    I, 


■VI  >li(  )ICA    C.KK 


Ab. 


i-i.i:,\. 


U;i!l 


Siclo 


•i;-./.  1, 


line    till- 

i)Ut 

^'leaked 


"vc,  h,i„|,t 


lers 


'I'gli    the 


azure  blue;  I 


)ac 


eves  : 


Win 


',""e'-  pair  spotted  with 
'    «ith  dusky  blue.     J 


,us    with    t 


•^t'cakcd  with  black 


o   white    I 


"lute  ;  beneath,  wl 


)a  rs 


line  nf 
dl    tail- 


open  wo(K])and 


on   Ii 


eni,'th 


■I 


ori/ontal  I 


*    '"   5   i'lche 


'I'e;  breast  and 


Jnu-li 


«"  JO  to  50  feet  fl, 


||n   the 


248 


SINGING   IJIRDS. 


ground;  of  grass  and  liclicns   fa.>lcnc(l  with   insect  silU,  lined  witli  fine 

A;fV.r.  4  ;  wliile  witli  ^lecn  or  Ijltie  tint,  ^putted  cliictly  around  ihe 
larger  entl  wilii  reddish  brown  ami  iihic  ;  0.70  X  0'53' 

This  Very  ilclicalcly  colored  si)ecies  is  nnionL;  the  nire>t 
siuiinicr  residents  of  the  Atlantic  States,  and  does  not  i)rol)al)ly 
migrate  or  rather  stray  farther  north  than  the  State  of  New 
York.  In  the  Southwestern  Slates,  particularly 'I'ennessee  and 
^^'est  Florida,  it  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  species;  it  isalxi 
found  in  the  western  wilderness  beyontl  the  Mississip|)i.  it  is 
only  in  the  summer  that  it  ventures  into  the  Middle  States, 
from  which  it  retires  almost  before  the  first  chills  of  autumn,  nr 
by  the  middle  of  Atigust.  It  freipients  the  borders  of  stream^ 
and  marshes,  antl  i)ossesses  many  of  the  habits  of  the  l"l}- 
catchers,  warbling  also  at  times  in  a  lively  manner,  and 
though  its  song  be  short,  it  is  at  the  same  time  sweet  and 
mellow. 

The  ])riiicipal  range  of  this  daintily  dressed  songster  is  throuL;h 
the  soutliwestern  division  o[  this  ICastern  Province,  between  the 
valley  of  the  Mississippi  and  tiie  Alleulianian  hills,  north  to  (^hio 
(wliere  it  is  abundant),  southern  Ontario,  Indiana,  and  Illinois. 
It  occasionallv  wanders  castwanl  to  central  New  York,  Rhode 
Island,  and  Connecticut. 


lined  with  tnu> 
-lly  arouiul  llie 

ig  the  rarest 
not  probably 
^late  of  Xfw 
•niK-ssce  ainl 
ics;  it  isalst) 
■.sii)])!.  It  i^ 
liddlc  States, 
:)f  autumn,  (ir 
:s  of  streams 
of  the  M\- 
nanner,  and 
.e  .sweet  and 


t'^»'in!s  the  mi,I,n,.  nf   t     m      ^    ^'^''  •"■'•'vin-  i,i   ,..,.,,     ,    '"'" 


^"■"  I"  tl,e  first  ,rcek  in 7,  ,  ,       "''■'""".«.  l«><vovr  ,„,v    . 

^'7  <™l.y  the  na,,,,.a,i,     "'•,'"■"  '^'''■~  '"  '•""""">  :,ron° 
'"  "'^'  '"""II.  of  March      ,r        'T'"^'''  ^''■-  """«k.      /" 

'".;,^"  fi;-«  Of  uvse  nj;;;?'^-"' ' "™"'  "-'-^  specie,,  .,„;,;;;:^ 

,:  -"f  l;«  »P>=cies,_pa«e,  hf""— 'I''-'  ""•^'^'""cm.  and 
;;  >  ■■  -«„lse  brier,,  bra„U      ,   r,  ™^  "'■"  *""'  ■"'^"'>'  ""  " 
"■^  «-"  ...  lo>v  a„U  .ater,  ,,:;,::;  "«:«-'-  »l.™b,.ery 

>^  nanibitious  to  be  seen, 


250 


SINGING   lilRDS. 


ho  seldom  ascends  above  the  tops  of  the  underwood,  where  ho 
(hvells,  busily  employed  in  collecting  the  insects  on  which  lir 
feeils.     After  these,  like  the  Wren,  he  darts  into  the  deepest 
thicket,  and  threads  liis  devious  way  through  every  opening ; 
he  searches  around   the  stems,  examines  beneath  the  leaves, 
and  raising  himself  on  his  peculiarly  i)ale  and  slender  legs, 
peeps  into  each  crevice  in  order  to  seize  by  surprise  his  tiny 
lurking  prey.     While  thus  engaged,  his  affection  to  his  neigii- 
boring  mate  is  not  forgotten,  and  with  a  simplicity,  agreeable 
and    characteristic,    he    twitters    forth   at    short    intervals    his 
''wJutitctce  'u'Jiitifctcv  'li'liitih'lcc,  but  his  more  common  song  is 
^whittitshi'c  'u'hitiitslicc,  or  ''wctit>:ln'c  locHfshir  locc  ;  and  sonic- 
times  I  have  heanl  his  note  like,  ^wetHshcc  7vctitshci\  ''wil'xu 
wi\     On  this  last  syllable  a  plaintive  sinking  of  the  voice  nii- 
ders  the  lively,  earnest  ditty  of  the  active  minstrel  peculiarly 
agreeable.     Copying  apparently  from  the  Cardinal  J>ird,  ihe 
song  was,  in  one   instance,  which  came  to  my  notice,  'vif'ixu 
^•('it'iyu  ^vifiyii.     The  whole  is  likewise  often  varied  and  lowered 
into   a  slender  whisper,   or  tender  revery  of  vocal   instiiK  t. 
Sometimes    he   calls    out,    tcchhoo,    /rris/too,    and    scicuiiiii  iiit 
scwaiiii'iiit  srK'ai</i/snoi'c,   or  scwixiii'uUt  st'waitiitshoce,  as   he 
busily  darts  through  the  blooming  and  odor-breathing  shrubs 
of  the  grove  or  garden,  which  he  examines  with  minute  aiu  n- 
tion,  and  sometimes  springs  perpendicularly  after  his  retrcatinii; 
and  discovered  prey.     He  appears  by  no  means  shy  or  sus- 
picions, as  long  as  his  nest  is  unapproached  ;  but  for  the  sallty 
of  that  [)recious  treasure  he  scolds,  laments,  and  entreats  wiili 
great  anxiety. 

The  species  generally  nest  in  the  recluse  thickets  of  the 
forest,  or  the  low  bushy  meadow;  but  sometimes  they  take  up 
their  abode  in  the  garden,  or  the  field  contiguous  to  the  house, 
and  if  undisturbed,  show  a  predilection  for  the  place  which 
has  afforded  security  to  themselves  and  their  young.  '1  hey 
commence  their  labor  of  building  about  the  middle  of  May, 
fixing  the  nest  on  or  near  the  ground,  among  dry  leaves, 
withered  grass,  or  brush,  and  choose  often  for  security  the  most 
intricate  thicket  of  briers,  so  that  the  nest  is  often  sheltered 


'ood,  where  ho 
ts  on  which  ho 
:o  tlic  (lcci)c'st 
jvcry  opening ; 
■th  the  leaves, 

slender  legs, 
rprise  his  tiny 
I  to  his  neigh- 
jity,  agreeable 

intervals    his 
mm  on  song  is 
V  ,•  and  soiiK'- 
'i'/s/ur,  '7k'//' ut 
the  voice  rvn- 
trel  peculiarly 
inal  IJird,  the 
notice,  '77//17/ 
1  and  loweird 
'ocal   instill!  t. 
id    sc7i>a/</i\i/t 
/.uwec,   as   he 
athing  shrubs 
minute  atti  11- 
his  retreating 
s  shy  or  sus- 
for  the  safity 
entreats  with 


'^lOLKXrXG   WAKm.EK. 


•Tid  concealed  hv  ....  •      •  ^^' 

h'-uici  aiKi  siihportcd  bv  tl,  .  "-^lUs  loose  y 

',:'^'  "■^'  '■"".«  -"sii  cut  I'l  ';;;:;■"'» "'  ■»'«»  wiut.  ,' 

;;>";■«  I'oing  „„„,;,_  ^,,J  '    >" ...g  no„.  „„,,  „,„„^  ,  f 

""  the  arriva    of  tb-.f  ,>    •    .  "^  '""'"p.iratiw  v,,  ,    ■/ 

*',-'■    -^^  --ly  .->»  tile  clue  of   ,:,"''■  ,"■'•"''  "•^"■"^  "'-"  o 
"'"■'-■'•■■  °  "''"''^^  l'--"-ty  iiou-  forage  i„ 

spLrinicns  taken   in   ir'i     •,'  '^^  -^^r.  Frank  Af  r-i,         '''.(''•. 


HOURMXo   A\ARmj.:R. 

,-  Gfothlvpis  r.,f,r,.u.,,,,,,n, 

-;  ;•     b.  open  wo„<I!and  or  pa  '  ,  ,T"'  ^'^  '"  5.'^  inches.        '"' 

-'■"f-ftahle  fibre.  lined  it,;;;;  •;  ""  "'^'  ■'^--'l  or  in  ,.,,,,,,  „^ 

^\'lson,  the  discoverer  of  tbl«       • 


252 


SINOINO   IMKDS. 


ing  marshy  ground,  and  llitling  through  low  bushes  in  (luost  of 
insects,  appears  very  similar  to  the  Maryland  Vellow-ihroat. 
'i'he  discoverer,  however,  alstj  distinguished  it  more  importanily 
by  llie  luivcUy  uf  its  sprightly  and  pleasant  warble  ;  we  may 
therefore  perhaps  consider  it  as  a  solitary  straggler  from  the 
main  body  in  the  western  regions  of  this  vast  continent.  It 
was  shot  in  the  early  part  of  Jtme  near  i'hiladi'l|)hia. 

On  the  2oth  of  May,  1831,  I  saw,  as.l  beliexe.  the  tna/<- oi 
this  species  in  the  dark  shrubbery  of  the  llotanic  (lanliii 
(Cambridge).  It  jiossesscd  all  the  manners  of  the  comnum 
species,  was  e<iually  busy  in  search  of  insects  in  the  low  bushes, 
and  at  little  intervals  warbled  out  some  very  ])Ieas;mt  notis, 
which  though  they  resembled  the  lively  chant  t)f  the  Maryland 
Yellow-throat,  even  to  the  uwtitsJicc,  yet  they  were  more  agicc- 
al)ly  varied,  so  as  to  api)roac:h  in  some  degree  the  song  of  the 
Suivmier  \'ell()W  llird  (Sy/r/ii  us/ira).  This  remarkable  noti, 
indeed,  set  mc  in  (juest  of  the  bin],  whiih  I  followed  for  some 
time ;  but  at  last,  perceiving  himself  watched,  he  left  the  gar- 
den. As  far  as  I  was  able  to  observe  this  individual,  he  was 
above  of  a  dark  olive-green,  very  cinereous  on  the  fi;re  i)aii  uf 
the  head,  with  a  band  of  black  through  the  eyes,  which  de- 
scended from  the  side  of  the  neck,  where  at  length  it  joined 
with  a  crescent  of  dusky  or  black  spots  ui)on  the  breast;  the 
throat  was  yellow  and  the  under  parts  jjaler. 

Mr.  Townsend  saw  a  si)ecimen  on  the  shady  borders  of  the 
Schuylkill  in  tiie  month  of  May  last,  and  a  second  indiviihial 
has  been  obtained  by  Mr.  ])e  Rham  in  the  vicinity  of  New  \'ork. 
Two  or  three  other  si)ecimens  have  also  been  obtained  in  the 
vicinity  of  riiiladeljjhia  and  in  New  Jersey.  It  is,  howe\er, 
still  a  very  rare  species,  and  its  proper  habitation  is  yet  to  be 
discovered. 

This  is  still  a  rare  bird  in  many  localities,  and  it  is  among  the 
dcsiiicrata  of  most  collectors ;  yet  within  the  limits  of  Us  favui  ito 
breeding  areas,  —  at  the  liigiicr  altitudes  of  the  AUeghanics:  on  the 
Berkshire  Hills;  along  the  northern  borders  of  X'ermont  and  NiW 
Hampshire;  in  portions  of  New  York;  and  elsewhere  between  the 
Atlantic  coast  and  the  Plains  where  suitable  conditions  of  environ 


CONNLCTICLT  WAKIILLU. 


-^53 


pK'St  of 

-ihluat. 
Drlantly 
xc  may 
om  the 
unt.     li 

(lanli  n 
conunun 
V  buslu>. 
il  n()U>, 
Marylaivl 
»re  agrrc- 
ng  of  ilic 
iblo  noU', 

for  some 
t  tlu-  gar- 
;il,  he  was 

re  i);ni  of 
,vhich  di.'- 

it  joinc'l 

cast;  the 

Icrs  of  Uk' 
indiviilnal 
c\v  \'i)rk. 
lied  in  ibc 
howiNcr, 
vet  to  be 


lanion^'  the 
Ills  I'avuiiw 
lies ;  on  the 
It  and  NfW 

k'tween  the 
of  cnviioiv 


meiit  are  obtainable,  —  tlie  MourniiiLi  \Vail)ltr  is  not  at  all  rare, 
aixl  in  llie  West  —  in  Minnesota,  iJakota  ancl  M.initoha  —  it  is 
(1(  (  iiledly  abundant.  lividuiUly  it  lias  no  special  likini;  lor  llie 
Maritime  I'roviiui's  n.)r  lor  any  portion  of  Canada  e.i.st  ol  bake 
Wimiipe^j,  lor  Canadian  oli.scr\er.s  in  niiuial  report  il  r.ne  or 
uiuonnnon.  Net  one  of  llif  feu  ucsts  liiat  liave  betii  distovereil 
was  secured  by  Mr.  Kells,  lu'ar  l.istowel,  in  Ontario.  This  iKst 
was  in  a  cedar  sw.nnp  and  jilacud  on  tliu  liori/onlal  branch  of 
a  small  tree  (|uito  close  to  the  j;round. 

Tlie  examples  I  saw  in  New  lirunswick  were  in  small  lioeks, 
and  were  a  very  busy  and  very  merry  eomp.my,  -  busy  in  srarehiuL; 
fiir  their  food,  niovinj;  in  most  sprightly  and  vivacious  niaimer, 
and  makini,^  merry  witii  sweet  voices.  'I'lu'  sont;  coi'>;sls  of  a  few 
simple  notes.  tIiou.L;li  sometimes,  when  hovering  while  on  the  wing, 
it  is  more  elaborate. 


coNNi:("'i'i('i"r  \v.\i<I!I,i;r. 

c;KAV-iii:.\!)i:i)  wakiu.i.k. 

GbjIIIIAI'IS    A(,II,IS. 

<"!i.\R,  .-Xbovc,  I'live  ;  IicacI,  neck,  and  l)rca>i  asliv,  darkot  on  breast 
,ini!  iiown;  white  rin;;  aicmnil  liic  eyes;  clic>t  ami  belly  yellow,  siiks 
slii'l'  (1  with  (jlive.     Len.nih  5/^  to  6  inches. 

.\  .'.  Midden  on  a  tnft  uf  weeds,  or  .sunk  in  nii)S.-,y  nionnd,  in  >wanipy 
w !' ;  composed  of  tlricd  i;rass. 

/■.„^'.-.  4-  ?;  creamy,  spotted,  chiefly  around  llic  iari^er  end,  with  black, 
biowii,  and  lilac;  0.75  -|-  0.55. 

This  rare  species,  cUscovcred  by  \\'ils()n  in  Conncrticut  and 
aftcrwanls  in  the  ncij^diborhood  of  i'hiladcli)hia.  appears  to 
frcijiicnt  low  thickets,  and  is  excec(bn,L,ly  active  in  ])ursnit  of 
its  prey,  scarcely  rcniaininj.f  a  rnonicnt  in  the  same  jilact-. 
Wilson  afterwards  shot  two  specimens  of  a  bird  whicli  in  cvitv 
jurticular  agreed  with  the  above,  except  in  liaving  thi'  throat 
dull  buff  instead  of  ])alc  ash.  These  were  both  females,  as  he 
supposed,  of  the  present  species. 

The  history  of  this  bird  is  still  interestinjxly  obscure,  so  much 
has  \ft  lobe  learned;  but  gleaning  from  records  made  by  nliser- 
vers  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  I  am  enabled  to  add  a  little  to 
Nut  tail's  account. 


254 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


The  bird  lias  been  taken  tlirouLCliout  the  greater  part  of  tlii.- 
Kaslern  I'rovince  ;  but  its  distrihutiun  appears,  from  the  evid-iue 
so  tar  gathered,  to  be  soniewiiat  peculiar.  It  winters  in  Muxiro 
and  southward,  and  in  tlie  sj)ring  migrates  wholly  along  the  -Missis 
sippi  valley,  where  it  is  more  or  less  abundant  north  to  .Manitoli.i. 
though  it  is  rarely  seen  at  that  season  to  the  eastward  of  Illinois. 
It  breeds  in  Minnesota,  Dakota,  and  .Manitoba,  and  in  the  an 
tinnn  part  of  the  flocks  go  south  along  the  Mississij)i)i.  while  otiu  is 
pass  eastward  along  the  shores  of  the  Great  Lakes,  and  thence  to 
Massachusetts,  the  most  nortiiern  limit  of  the  bird's  range  (jii 
the  Atlantic  side,  where  it  is  common  durmg  the  first  halt'  of 
September,  after  which  the  flocks  continue  on  a  gradual  movenu  nt 
sou  til  ward. 

Dr.  Wheaton  considered  the  sjiecie.;  very  rare  in  Ohio,  and  it 
was  thought  to  be  rare  in  Ontario  until  18S4.  when  niv  friend  Wil- 
liai'i  .Saunders  found  it  common  in  the  vicinity  of  London.  'Jlic 
only  nest  yet  taken  was  discovered  by  another  friend  and  fellow- 
worker  Ernest  Thompson.  Il  was  found  near  Carberry,  .Manitolia. 
in  18S3,  sunk  amid  a  mossy  mound  in  a  tamarack  swamp, —  a 
dark,  gray  waste.' 

In  the  West,  during  the  spring  migrations,  these  birds  are  c.xcnd- 
ingly  active  and  very  shy,  moving  inces.santly  among  the  brandies 
in  (piest  of  insects,  and  when  a])proached  darting  into  the  thitki.st 
covers;  but  those  I  saw  on  the  Fresh  Pond  marsh  at  Cambridge 
fed  chietlv  on  the  ground,  amoni:   the  leaves,  and  when  distuilicil 


tl 


pos 


ew  uen 


dl 


erally  but  a  short  distance  to  a  low  branch,  and  sat  as  com- 


sedlv  as  a 


Tl 


nnisi 


Thompson  describes  the  song  as  similar  to  the  Golden-crow 


IH'll 


Thrush,  and  says  it  may  be  suggested  by  the  syllables  bcecJiei- 
Ih-idiiy-lhwhey-bcccJicr-bcecJicr-lh'i'iht'r.  sung  at  the  same  pitch 
throuiiliout. 


rt  of  t^>'-- 

cvid'.'iicc 
n  Mcxiro 
ic  Missis- 
ManitolM. 
)i  Illinois. 
n  tlic  an 
hilo  otluis 

thence  to 

rant^e   on 
ivst  lialf  of 

movenieiit 

)liio.  and  it 
friend  Wil- 

lulon.  'I'li'^- 
and  felUnv- 

,-,  Manit(ili:\. 

wanip,  — ''^ 

■;  arc  CXCeed- 
he  branelKS 
tlie  thi^.l^e^l 
I  Canibiid'j:^^' 
len  distvulicd 
dsat  as  enm- 

|den-cro\\iH'd 

)les  l>i-ei!ii>'- 
same    liitcli 


WORM-EATING    \VAR15LER. 

Hklmii'IIkkls  vi;k.miv()rls. 

CiiAU.  Above,  olive;  iiead  \n\\{,  with  four  >trii)cs  of  black  ;  beneath, 
lii;:l,  paler  on  belly.      I.eiii;th  5'2  to  5*4  inches. 

.\.  7.  On  the  t;round,  often  covered  by  a  bush,  or  beside  a  fallen  log; 
of  U.ives,  moss,  and  grass,  hned  with  moss,  line  grass,  or  hair. 

/■\,;-..  3-6  (usually  5)  ;  variable  in  shape  and  coli>r-,  white,  sometimes 
wiiii  luitf  or  i)ink  lint,  marked  with  tine  spots  of  reddish  brown  and 
lil.ic,  o,;o  X  0.55. 

These  birds  arrive  in  Pennsylvania  al)ont  the  midiUe  of 
May.  .mil  migrate  to  the  South  towards  the  (■K)se  of  Septem- 
ber; I  hey  were  seen  feeding  their  young  in  tliat  State  about 
ihc  J5th  of  June  by  Wilson,  so  that  some  ])airs  stay  and  breed 
there.  They  are  very  aetive  and  indefatigable  insertdiunters, 
ami  have  the  note  and  many  of  the  manners  of  the  Marsh 
'ritmoiise  or  Chiekadee.  About  the  4th  of  October  I  have  seen 
a  jiair  of  these  birds  roving  through  the  branches  of  trees  witlt 
restless  agility,  hanging  on  the  twigs  and  examining  the  tnnd<s. 
ill  <iuest  probably  of  spiders  and  other  lurking  and  dorm  nit 
itiseets  and  their  larvae.  One  of  them  likewise  kept  uj)  a  con- 
stant complaining  call,  like  the  sound  of  A//(-  i/r  dc. 

.\ecording  to  Richardson  this  species  visits  the  fur  coun- 
tries, where  a  single  specimen  was  pro(ined  at  ("umbedanil 
Huiise,  on  the  banks  of  the  Saskatchewan,  ll  is  found  also  in 
M. line  and  the  British  Provinces  of  New  r.rimswi(  k  ami  Nova 
•Scotia,     Dr.    Bachman    says  that  it   breeds   sparingly  in    the 


256 


SINGING    DIRDS. 


swamps  of  Carolina,  as  he  observetl  a  pair  followed  by  three 
or  four  young  ones  nearly  Hedged,  all  of  which  alreatly  exhibi- 
ted the  markings  on  the  head. 

Ricluirdson  led  Nuttall  into  a  mistake  regarding  the  distributidii 
of  this  species.  It  is  a  Soutliern  Ijird,  breeding  eiiicHy  south  ol'  laii 
tudt;  4o\  and  occurs  but  rarely  along  the  nortiiern  limit  of  its  range. 
—  sDUtlicrn  New  Enghuul,  the  soutliern  shores  of  Lake  Erie,  and 
northern  lllinuis.     It  has  not  been  taken  in  the  Provinces. 

Usually  these  birds  feed  on  tiie  ground  iimong  the  dead  leaves, 
but  sometimes  rise  amid  the  branches,  as  described  by  Nuttall 
They  are  not  ''shy"  l)ircls,  for  they  will  remain  on  the  nest  uriiil 
fairly  driven  off,  and  when  feeding  are  apparently  indilTerent  about 
being  watched. 


SWAIXSOX'S   AVARBLER. 

HeL1XA1.\    SWAINSUXII. 

Char.  Ahove,  chill  olive,  head  and  wings  tinged  with  reddish  brown; 
dark  streak  througli  the  eyes  ;  line  over  eyes  and  under  jiarts  white  with 
yellow  tint ;  sides  tinged  with  olive      Length  !5'<  to  6  inches 

A'c'sf.  In  a  swamp,  or  near  stagnant  pool,  or  on  dry  ujiland  ;  in  cine- 
stalk  or  on  bush,  4  to  10  feet  from  the  ground  ;  a  bulky  and  inartistic 
affair  of  dead  leaves,  lined  with  roots  and  pine  needles. 

/^Xf^'v.     3-4;  white  with  blue  tint,  unmarked  ;  0.75  X  060. 

Dr.  Hachman,  who  discovered  this  species  near  the  bank? 
of  the  Edisto  River,  in  South  Carolina,  remarks:  "I  was  rir>t 
attracted  by  the  novelty  of  its  notes,  four  or  five  in  nunilier, 
relocated  at  intervals  of  five  or  six  minutes  ajiart.  These  nnte^ 
were  loud,  clear,  and  more  like  a  whistle  than  a  song.  They 
resembled  the  sound  of  some  extraordinary  ventrihxiuist  in  -ndi 
a  degree  that  I  su])posed  the  bird  much  farther  off  than  i'. 
really  was  ;  for  after  some  trouble  caused  by  these  fictitiiui< 
notes,  T  observed  it  near  me.  and  soon  shot  it."  These  birii- 
apjienr  to  have  a  predilection  for  swampy,  muddy  places,  u-ii- 
ally  more  or  less  covered  with  water.  They  feed  on  cohop 
terous  insects  and  the  larvne  which  infest  the  ponddily.  'Iluv 
usually  keep  in  low  bushes,  and  retire  southward  at  the  close 
of  summer.     They  breed,  it  appears,  in  South  Carolina. 


owed  by  three 
already  cxhibi- 

the  distribution 
Hy  south  of  laii- 
luit  of  its  r;inj;e. 
Lake  Erie,  and 
)vinees. 

he  dead  leaves, 
bed  by  Nuttall 
III  the  uest  uiiiil 
ad  liferent  abcnit 


h  reddish  brown; 
■  parts  wiiitc  wiili 
chcs 

iqiland  ;  in  caiic- 
Iky  and  inartistic 

o  60. 

near  the  banks 
H :  ''I  was  first 
five  in  nuinl>i'r, 
These  noti> 
a  sonji.  1  !uy 
iloquist  in  sndi 
her  off  than  i; 
these  fietitiiuis 
"  These  Mni- 
(ly  places.  'imi- 
;ed  on  roKo]! 
)nd-lily.  'i'luv 
ird  at  the  <'lose 
Carolina. 


PROTIIONOTAKV   U.VUULEK. 
I'ntil  recently,  „„,„, 


--""PS  10  whici,  i,  „„„,;,,      P  ';.''-;»  ll'c  ranker  ,™„-,|,  otZ 
v.i->n,     lis  s„„     -        .     J-  '"  Ik  confined  clunnt  ll.,.  1,,,    1 

'"•'■  "''"^' "  i-"an  tlz^,:::?  ,'"""■  '■•■■■■'-  '-■  -  '■;;;'* 

-l;-»  ^;"or  ,l,e  ,,„„,„,  ,„,  J  :^       ..'-Hlcr  <,„ali,,.  „,,.  „„  „  '^^^^- 

"!<-■  distribution  of  the  ■ 

:'>,";;'-"ined,  but  it  proS;^^;:;; ""^  y^;l  f^cen  verv  satisfac- 

'^'.'  -states,  and  alon.  the  ]  li' ;    ■-   "^  ='"  '''^'  ''^""'h  A,la„  ic 
1  i'Kliana.  -         Ali-sissipp,  valley  north  to  Jlli      , 


tor 
am 
aiK 


PROTHOXOTARV    „-.u..,,,K. 

P'«>T„N„T,,„IA   (Tre,:,i, 
''  HAR.      Head    nc  I 

-\f'-««s,p|,i  near  x„,  Or,,,.,,  J  "~- '  "' ™-""Py  foivsis 


0 


rV"""  """''■>■  """"K  i"  »   r  t  V'    "■■  '"^"^''^  '■■"'"-'"■* 

;^'"'  -I'^lll  lan.I  shell,  over,  ,  ,     '■"■''''■  '■""Pil^lrs,  la,ve 

">^  --  scarcely  .  ese  ri     "I  "'  ""'  ""■"  """'"«  .'  'V«'c      t' 

"■"  ''^ ■»-->'i-e»e,„:ri-,;;:"""r  "■'''■'■'■■ "■ 


258 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


Dr.  Ikichman,  these  birJiS  breed  in  South  Carolina,  as  he  saw  a 
pair  and  their  young  near  Charleston. 

This  species  is  common  in  the  Gulf  States,  and  ranches  alone;  tlie 
Mississippi  valley,  being  peculiarly  abundant  in  southuni  Illinois 
and  southwestern  Indiana,  but  near  the  Atlantic  is  rarely  sltii 
north  of  Georgia.  A  few  stragglers  have  been  encountered  in 
New  England,  while  one  has  been  taken  at  St.  Stephen.  N\\v 
Brunswick,  by  Mr.  George  A.  Boardman,  and  another  near  Haiiiil 
ton,  Ontario,  by  H.  C.  Mcllwraith. 

It  is  said  to  be  more  deliberate  and  thnishlike  in  its  movements 
than  are  its  sprightly  congeners,  the  Dcmiroicic.  The  song  nm^t 
frequently  heard  is  described  as  a  simple  but  pleasing  whistle,  liki- 
that  of  the  solitary  Sandpiper,  though  when  the  singer  is  near  at 
hand,  almost  startling  in  its  intensity.  .Mr.  Brewster  menticms 
hearing  another  song  delivered  on  the  wing,  and  intended  lor  ihu 
ear  of  the  mate  alone.  It  is  generally  heard  only  after  incubation 
has  commenced,  and  is  low,  but  very  sweet,  and  resembles  suiui;- 
what  the  song  of  a  Canary,  delivered  in  an  undertone. 


BLUE-WING KD   \\'ARr.LER. 

Helminthophii-a  riNus. 

Char.  Above,  bright  olive  :  wings  and  tail  dull  blue;  wings  with  tw^ 
white  bars  ;  tail  with  several  white  blotches;  black  line  through  the  cm  : 
crown  and  under  parts  yellow.     Length  about  5  inches. 

A\'st.  In  a  tuft  of  grass  amid  thicket  of  underbrush  or  along  marj'n  : 
woods;  bulky,  and  loosely  made  of  dried  leaves  and  vegetable  fibre,  lim  : 
with  fine  grass. 

^SS^-    4-5;  white,  faintly  speckled  with  brown  ;  o/io  X  0.50. 

About  the  beginning  of  May  this  species  enters  Pcnnsylvani; 
from  the  South,  and  frecpients  thickets  and  shrubberies  in  (hk.-: 
of  the  usual  insect  food  of  its  tribe.  At  the  ai)])roach  of  win- 
ter, very  different  from  the  Pine  Warbler,  with  which  it  h- 
somctimes  been  confoimded,  it  retires  to  pass  the  winter  in 
tropical  America,  having  been  seen  around  Vera  Cruz  ir. 
autumn  by  Mr.  Bullock.  On  its  arrival  it  frequents  garden-, 
orchards,  and  willow  trees,  gleaning  among  the  blossoms,  l'-:: 
at  length  withdraws  into  the  silent  woods  remote,  from  th; 


i'.i.ri;-\viN(;i:i)  wariu.kr. 


259 


5  he  saw  a 


:s  alon.i;  tin- 

rarely  scm 
ounlerccl  in 
-phen.  New- 
near  Haniil 

s  movements 
le  sunt:;  nmsl 
whistle,  like 
rcr  is  near  ;U 
iter  mentions 
ended  ior  \\k 
ler  ineubatii'U 
^embles  some- 
loue. 


liannts  of  men,  tcj  pass  the  period  of  breeding  and  rearing  its 
\ining  in  more  security. 

The  ajjparent  distribiitinii  of  this  species,  judged  by  the  records 
111  recent  observations,  is  soniewliat  peculiar.  It  seems  to  i)e 
.ihundant  in  the  soutinvestern  portion  of  this  ICastern  i'rovince,  and 
rarelv  ranges  east  of  the  Allegiianian  hills  until  nortii  of  40^,  when 
it  >pieads  off  to  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic,  thougli  seldom  going 
i)f\i)nd  latitude  42°.  A  few  examples  only  have  been  taken  in 
Massachusetts,  and  though  common  in  Ohio  it  has  not  been  seen 
ill  Ontario.  Farther  west  it  is  found  north  to  the  southern  por- 
tions of  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  and  .Minnesota.  It  winters  .south  to 
ia>tL-rn  Mexico  and  Guatemala. 

The  nests  that  have  been  discovered  in  recent  years  are  not 
lasliioned  like  tliat  described  by  Wilson,  for  instead  of  being 
lannel-shaped,   they  have  the   ordinarv   cup-like   form. 

Opinions  differ  regarding  the  song,  but  I  am  inclined  to  believe 
tliat  it  is  a  rapid  trill  of  strong,  sweet  tones,  limited  m  compass  and 
L-xnuted  with  little  art, — a  merry  wiiistle  rather  than  an  artistic 
iiK'liifly. 


wings  witli  tw^ 
[through  ihL^"- 

along  martin  ■ 
ctable  fibre,  la>^^ 


iX  0.50. 

k  Pennsylvaiv;-^ 
Iberies  in  qtK-' 
jjiroach  of  w"> 
[h  which  it  ^i-- 
the  winter  1' 
Vera  Cm/  i" 
iuents  garden-. 
blossom-.  1  "- 
Lote,  from  thi 


26o 


SINGINC   niRDS. 


Goi-i)r:\-wix(;i:i)  wakp.lkr. 


HkI.MIMHOPHIU    CHKYSOI'IEKA. 


CirAR.  Above,  bluish  gray;  crown  yellow;  side  of  head  ycllo\vi>li 
white,  with  jjroad  patch  of  black  from  bill  through  eyes  ;  two  \ving-l)Mi~, 
yellow  ;  blotches  on  tail  white  ;  beneath,  white  tinged  with  yellow  ;  thru, it 
black;  sides  tinged  with  gray.      Length  about  5  inches. 

jVi's/.  Amid  a  tuft  of  long  grass,  in  moist  meadow  or  damp  margin  i)f 
woods;  constructed  of  shreds  of  bark,  roots,  etc  .  lined  with  fine  grass. 

J\i,X^\    4-6;  white  spotted  with  brown  and  lilac;  0.65  X  0.50. 


This  scjin.e  species  ai)i)ears  only  a  few  days  in  Pennsylvania 
about  the  last  of  Ai)ril  or  beginning  of  May.  It  darts  actively 
through  the  leafy  branches,  and  like  the  'I'itniousc  examines  the 
stems  for  insects,  and  often  walks  with  the  head  downwards; 
its  notes  and  actions  are  also  a  good  deal  similar,  in  common 
with  the  Worm-eating  Warbler.  I  have  never  yet  seen  ii  in 
Massachusetts,  and  if  it  really  does  proceed  north  to  breed,  it 
must  follow  a  western  route. 


The  riolden-wing  still  rcmaitis  a  somewhat  '•scarce"  bird,  but  it 
occurs  rcgiilafly  in  Cotinccticut  and  southern  Massachusetts,  aiul 
in  some  few  localities  is  often  quite  numerous.  Its  general  breediii:; 
area  lies  nortli  of  latitude  40°.  thnugli  nests  have  been  found  anion;: 
the  hills  of  (ieorgia  and  North  Carolina.  To  the  westward  it  bri  c(I> 
in  Ohio,  southern  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  and  Minnesota,  and  in  tlu 
vicinity  of  bondon,  Ontario,  where  Saunders  reports  it  quite  coiir 
luon.     It  winters  south  to  Central  America. 


head  ycllo\vi>li 
i  ;  two  \vinfi-l);ii>, 
til  yellow  ;  throat 

r  damp  inargin  nf 
with  fine  grass. 
,  X  0.50. 


n  Pennsylvania 
t  darts  actively 
,c  examines  \]\v 
1(1  downwards; 
lar,  in  common 
r  yet  seen  ii  in 
)rth  to  breed,  it 


ircc"  bird,  but  it 
issacliusctts.  ami 
c;eneral  brcci'iiiu 
?cn  found  anion;' 
cstward  it  breeds 
csota,  and  in  tin 
rts  it  quite  coivi- 


261 


I0|(| 


'}'  Audul 


'le.srnhed  tli 


ore  was  heard  of  tl 
■  >on  and  ATi,t(,,„ 


'■;^.ntercs(i„.   ,,;,,,   ^,, 


c  "est  and 


until   t,s 


'-\f^'-  s.  VV.  U-il 


nial 
tak 
in  I 


;i"d  fcnial 


son, 


ei,'-.us  IV 
■soniew 


«3 


»'i  tile  littK 


oin  e.vaiiinl 


en 


""t'l  1886,  wh 


e  secured  bv  D 


len 


l)ct\v 


I^'^'s  eoIJeetedin  (; 


"I'lsiana,  and 


eii  a  third 


r.  iiaeh 


con   t.s 


■y 

L'O'-.i^ia, 


man  were  tl 


->3  and  iSr.5.     -j-) 


10  Olllvsi 


le 


■  \\\U-  oi  ] 


I'lnouneed  by  Mr.  C 


"^^  ^-^   'n-  Charle;  s-  ^l^^i^'^l^^ 


iniiary,  1SS7.     A 


-;nno„„,^d  by  Dr.  Merr 


fourth. 


talv- 


'eoru-e  X    j 


■^  ''^-  (ialbraiih 


a  wren  c 


o  in 


'■•-'I'^rted.     S 
common  \n  the  S 


.'"  f-'Iorida  in  Afard 


le 


'•ini,  and 


s  "cen  di 


8S7, 
"LIS  Were 


to  a 

tiK 


Ppfoael 


VVl 


IS  an  active 


'■''•'^",ir,t,'-csti\e  of 


'  quarrelsome  bird 


aruia.     It  f,- 


>^'"searchin,:rf,,,f,,^,, 


P'-tlercneeforthel 


,«l"ents  both  shr.d.I 


Ks  m, 


inner 


atter 


and  for  ; 


■yand  hi-h  (, 


'■'it'ier  thick 


c'es,  but  si 


r'owth. 


low; 


TENxr:s 


^KK    \V.\ 


H 


i^I5Jj:r 


'■■'-Mivjnoj. 


"Ill- 

wit, 


A I 


"rt.A   /-M, 


1  ^lav. 


^ovc,  olive,  I,n„) 


<^'i.i<]\: 


'taildiiskv;  I 


r. 


^"Sth  4,'<  f 


itcst 
'■  '"-'iieath,  white, 


VC'!. 


'''■    ^^'1  a  !q\v   1 


o  .1 


"11  nim| 
with  f; 


had 


in,;,'   to 


le  (ihr, 


)iish 
''  'i'lcd  with  1 


'4  inches 


'""  tint  of  veil 


as 


hy 


"n  head 


sides  ti 


n^C( 


in 
lair. 


>P^i^  "oodland 


llKUk 


yrass,  nios 


and 


^mmmmm 


262 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


/i^i,%'s.  0-0  (])ri)bably  4  or  5) ;  white,  wreathed  aiomul  larger  end  with 
brown  and  purplish  spots:  0.65  X  0.50  (?). 

This  nirc  and  plain  species  was  iliscovcred  by  Wilson  on 
the  btnks  of  Cnniberland  River,  in  the  State  of  Tennessee.  It 
was  hnnting  with  great  agility  among  the  opening  leaves  in 
spring,  and  like  the  rest  of  the  section  to  which  it  appertains, 
possesses  a  good  deal  of  the  habits  of  the  Titmouse.  Its  noti^ 
were  few  and  weak,  and  its  food,  as  nsiial,  smooth  caterpillais 
and  winged  insects.  It  is  still  so  rare  that  Audubon  never 
saw  more  than  three  individuals,  —  two  in  Louisiana,  and  one  at 
Key  West  in  East  Florida,  all  of  which  were  males. 

Ornithologists  of  the  present  day  do  not  consider  this  Warhkr 
quite  so  rare  as  did  Xuttall  and  In's  contemporaries,  though  it  is 
somewhat  local  in  its  distribution,  and  is  only  met  with  occasionally 
at  many  places  within  its  range.  In  the  l-^astern  States  it  is  rather 
rare,  excepting  on  the  northern  border  of  New  York  and  New  lin^- 
land,  where  it  breeds;  but  it  is  more  numerous  in  the  .Mississippi 
valley,  and  Dr.  Coues  found  it  migrating  in  abundance  along  the 
Red  River,  through  Minnesota  and  Dakota,  while  Thompson 
reports  it  as  "a  common  suminer  resident  "  in  parts  of  Manitohi. 
Dr.  Wheaton  considered  it  rare  in  Ohio.  l)ut  Saunders  reports  it 
"common  at  times''  in  the  southern  ])eninsula  of  Ontario,  while 
Mcllwraith  has  seen  it  but  twice  near  Hamilton.  It  is  rare  in  tlie 
Ottawa  valley  and  near  the  city  of  Quebec,  while  common  near 
Montreal.  Comeau  says  it  breeds  in  numbers  near  Point  de 
Monts,  on  the  north  shore  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  and  Ma( mm 
reports  it  common  around  Lake  Misstissini.  It  is  not  uncommon  in 
some  few  localities  in  New  Lrunswick,  where  it  remains  all  s:;ni- 
mcr.  Mr.  Walter  Fa.xon  reports  seeing  an  example  on  (iraylock 
and  another  on  the  White  Mountains.  Very  few  nests  have  been 
discovered,  and  one  of  these  was  taken  near  Springfield.  Mass. 

It  is  an  active  bird  and  very  wary,  always  on  the  alert,  —  dartini; 
rapidly  from  branch  to  branch.  The  song  is  a  sweet-toned,  clieery 
whistle,  —  somewhat  similar  to  that  of  the  Nashville. 


NAsri\'rr,LE  warhlkr. 


20: 


this  Warbler 
.,  though  it  is 
:i  occasionally 
es  it  is  rather 
lul  New  Kn;,'- 
c  Mississiiipi 
ncc  alon,L;  the 
Ic  Tliompson 
of  Maiiito!):i. 
Icrs  reports  it 
Ontario,  while 
:  is  rare  in  the 
common  near 
car  Point  de 
.',  and  Maeium 
:  uncommon  in 
lains  all  suni- 
e  on  Gravlock 
;.>sts  have  l)ecn 
eld,  Mass. 
lert,  —  dartiiii; 
:-toned,  cheery 


3  I'lelics. 


I''-''^'- '"Uhe  belly  jsij,.. 


'.-  •'"■"ii'ul   the  eves  ;  I 


of  i 


■^'■"'.     Amid  a  t 


'"^''.ulccl  with 


eav 


lift  of  weed 


live.     1 


'(■■IHMth. 


.fliyth 


4'j  1. 


•«  and  vegetable  til 


"*  "1  I)asture 


j-5  (ii.suall\-  4);    „.| 


'"-■.  lined  wit, 


or  (I 


'pen  woodlanc 


•■t'ldish  brown  and  1 


liit 


ilac 


Tl 


o.6o  X 


•-'  "■'  crca 


lis  rare  s,)ccics  was  ,1 


'SO. 


'  «''iss,  pinenecdic 
"'}■-  '"arked   with' jj 


or  li 


coiiij„)sed 


ail 


"<-'    SJX.ts   of 


Naslniile  in  'I 


^■nnessee ;  it  a! 


i^ovcrcl  by  \X\Uon 


in  til 


";  ^"nnner,  and  occasionall 


^"  ^'^ists  in  the  nei^hb, 


<-'  vicinity  of 


s;ich 


';;^- and  even  the  neighbo'rh 


V^ocv^ds  as  far  north 


ILSCttS 

noise 


Its    d 


which 


iscovercr  was   fi 


'^^t>'I  of  Salem  \n  t) 


'faring  States 
'■'^  I'hil.idel- 


lis  State  [.\f, 


'''■^'  t»-'gs,  or  the  strik 


it  made,  reseml)! 


'■^\  attracted   to   it  I 


is- 


n-  tht 


tiiii 


ins: 


ics  in 


t<)geth( 


"f/'ie  hreakins  of's.nall 


t'lncc  of  th 


•succession,  and  Jo.id 


''■  <•*"  pcl)l,!cs,  for 


doubt,  by  the  smart 


Tty  or  forty  yards.     \ 


enough  to  be  heard 


•'''^  or  sc\c 


n 


at  th 


chat  of  \ 


iropc. 


snapping  of  the  bill 


^""'lar  .sound,  pro.h.ccd 


e  (lis- 


•  w 


hich  h 


•"""^"say.s,  the  male,  whil, 
"'brs  a  (qw  lo 


t'"cc,  in  fact.  (1 


''  ''^  Ki'ncii  by  the  St 


•-'fives  its  na 


no 
one- 


cics  h 


:is 


all  th 


■--, -Mile  standing  in  a  stni  and 
-^erly  repeated,  creaking  note 


erect 


'c  active  habits  of 


P'rticularly  belongs.     And 


the  f; 


'iii'y  to  which   it 


in  firt 


uio 


rare,  as  he  s 


""^"f  April,  toward 


au'  them  in 


"'^•>;^  ^ays  that  these  bird 


'lie.     Ati- 
postiire, 
li.s  s|)e- 
niore 


Tl 


s  are  not 


""  them  in  M 


I  )\-a 


Scot 


la. 


aine  and  the  I'n 


exas,  nn  their  wa\- 


;;^'<Ierable  ntmibers  in  th 
'f"ard;  he  also 


'"^■'I'ions  the  occ 


A  fe 


>vinces  of  .\\.^.  j 


Un^^■ 


'"•I^^"^^>^<itof,abrad,>r,and| 
"••rence  „f  a  stramri 


''■"'i-^\vi(k  and 


in  C, 


■f'vcr  rare  the  Xash 


.%''cr  in  the  fur 


^'■-  KichanLson 
<'oiintries. 


t''>ininon 

tillr    I'r 


nibridrre,   jt 


villc  may  have  I 


'Umnicr  r 


's  "ot  a  rare  bird  I 


'ecu   wl 


M 


mitnl 
<hi  th 


■"^"ices,  and  oc 


'"    -Vuttall  lived 

■es.dent,h,-ot.,h;;,t'x:j^S„,ii::;'"^ 


icre  to-( 


)a. 


curs  ill  more  or  1 


"id  tlic  .Mari- 


ft^vinte,•ssouthto^;;,;:::i':;-:--v-^^ 


^  arrival  of  these  bird 


CO  and  CiKKenialr 


s  in  (he  sj)rin.'-  tl 


'-'.v  '"'■<-qu''nt  tl 


lie  sub- 


264  SINGING    IJIKI)S. 

I'l-han  ■rardfiis  and  orclianls.  but  sooti  retire  to  n  more  scrhidefl 
place  to  Ijuild;  and  liiddeii  away  amid  the  tiiicker  hiislies  ot  tlicir 
favorite  liaiints,  are  often  overlookeil  by  the  collector.  —  the  or 
nitholojjjical  reporter,  -  and  thus  the  species  has  accjiiired  a  repu- 
tation of  bein^f  •'  uncommon."' 

The  song  is  a  typical  Warbler-like  performance,  —  a  short  trill  nl 
sweet  notes,  whistled  with  little  variation  in  tone,  and  little  ell'oii 
at  artistic  execution  ;  but  I  have  not  heard  any  of  the  ••  har.sli  ' 
and  "creaking"  effects  noted  by  some  writers. 


or.\n(;p:-(R()\vni:i)  wariu.kr. 

HKLMIN'rilOI'IIIl.A    CKI.ATA. 

CilAR.  .Above,  olive,  brightest  mi  the  rum]i ;  crown  with  concc.ilt  il 
patch  of  brownish  orange ;  line  over  and  arotnid  the  eyes,  pale  yellow; 
bcncatli,  i)ale  greenish  yellow  ;  sides  shaded  with  olive.  Length  ^'^i  '" 
5'4^  inches. 

jVrsf.  On  tiie  ground  among  clumps  of  bushes  ;  made  of  grass,  mo->, 
and  i)lant  stems,  lined  with  hair. 

/:":,%■•.?,  4-6;  white  or  creamy,  marked,  chiefly  around  the  larger  eml, 
with  spots  of  reddish  brown  and  purplish  slate  ;  0.65  X  0.50. 

This  species,  first  discovered,  early  in  May,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Missouri  by  my  friend  Mr.  T.  Say,  appeared  to  l)e  on  its 
passage  f:irther  north.  It  is  not  uncommon  in  winter  in  the 
orange-groves  of  West  Florida,  where  it  proceeds  to  pass  ihc 
season,  arotind  St.  Augustine  ;  and  its  note  is  described  :i>  ;i 
mere  chirp  and  faint  squeak, scarcely  louder  than  tliat  nt".! 
mouse. 

.According  to  .\udubon,  these  birds  breed  in  the  eastern  piiit 
of  Maine  and  in  New  IJrunswick  and  Nova  Srotia.  In  the 
month  of  May  we  saw  them  abundant  in  the  forests  of  tin.' 
Oregon,  where  no  doubt  they  breed.  The  song  is  weak,  soph- 
what  resembling  that  of  most  of  the  Sylvicolas. 

Audubon  must  have  gathered  in  all  the  New  Brunswick  Oriinuv 
Crowns,  for  none  have  been  seen  there  since  his  visit,  nor  (  ni  1 
learn  of  any  having  been  observed  clsewdiere  in  eastern  Caiid.i. 
excepting    the    few  discovered  by   Mcllwraith  and  Saundeis  in 


KIRTLANI)  S    WAkliLKU. 


265 


sccUu\e'l 

—  UlC     111 

a  a  i-ci>"- 

nort  triUi'l 
iUle  ftion 


.-ith  conceal..! 
^,  pale  ycU"'.^ ; 
Length  A'A  '" 

of  grass,  mo->. 

the  larger  end, 

50. 

the  banks  of 
to  be  on  ii> 

Kvinlcr  in  ili^' 


(Is  to  pass 


the 


[escribed   a^  a 
um  that  "I'  ■' 

lo  eastern  1  "t 

lotia.     In  ^^■■' 

forests  of  tlv 

L  weak,  s.'''v- 

Inswick  Or  iv.'t^ 
■isU,  nor  cm  1 
Listern  Car.uli. 
V\  SauncU'!-  i" 


soiitlicrn  Ontario,  aiul  one  taken  by  1-rncst   \).  Winllc  near  Mdii- 
Heal  in  l.S(jo. 

Accidental  .straj;,y;lers  have  i)een  taken  in  New  i;n;;Iaiul.  i)ul  it  is 
(hietly  a  Western  iiird,  l)ree(iin,i;  in  tlie  iar  Nortli.  tliough  it  winters 
ill  llie  Southern  and  Gull  States. 


KIRTLAND'S  WARHLER. 
Dendroica  kiriiandi. 

CiiAU.  Above,  slate  blue,  tlie  featlicrs  nfliuad  and  back  streaked  with 
l)lack  ;  line  aiM)ss  forehead  and  throuj^h  the  eye.-,  bl.uk;  beiieatli,  yellow, 
|inM>t  anil  sides  spotted  with  black  ;  two  white  wing-bars  ;  whit''  blulchcs 
(HI  i.iil.     Length  5J4  to  6  inches. 

.\r../and  /\i^xs.     Unknown. 

Only  a  few  specimens  of  this  bird,  discovered  bv  Dr.  Kirtland, 
near  Cleveland,  in  l.S5r,havc  as  yet  been  seen,  and  these  few  were 
cai)tured  in  Ohio,  Michij:;an,  Wisconsin,  and  Missouri  durini,^  the 
sprint^  mii;Tations.  .Mr.  Charles  15.  Cory  secured  one  in  the  I'.aha- 
nias  in  winter.  The  habits  of  tlie  bird  are  unknown,  but  Mr. 
Cluibl),  who  shot  a  male  and  female  near  Cleveland  in  iS.So,  savs  : 
••  1  am  inclined  to  think  they  are  rather  terrestrial  in  tiieir  habits, 
fniiuenting  bushy  fields  near  woods." 


N'lrn-.  —  The  Cauhona  ri-.i)  W.\Kr.!.i:i{  (Pt-iidroica  (ar/'oitafi^). 
mentioned  by  Nuttall  on  the  autliority  of  Audulion,  who  killeil  two 
s])  ■(  iiiiens  in  Kentucky,  has  been  placed  on  the  "  Ilyjiotlietical 
I.iM  "  by  the  A.  O.  I'.  Committee,  as  has  also  the  r.i.ii-:  MouNlAlN- 
\V\i;r,Li:R  {Douiroica  vtontana)  and  tiie  Smai  i,-iii:ai)i,I)  Wak- 
i;i  I  i;  {Sylvania  iiiicfihrp/id/d),  mentioned  1)\-  Wilson  and  Audu- 
biMi.  Xo  specimens  of  eitiier  have  been  t.ikeii  in  recent  years. 
On  this  same  list  has  been  placed  the  Cin<  innah  Wakiu.f.k  (7/<7- 
miiithophila  citiciunaticnsis),  which  is  jirobably  a  hybrid  of  IT. 
piiiiis  and  G.foniiosa;  also  La\vki;\<i-.'s  Waki'.i.i.k  {ff.  Ia-^'re>ui) 
and  r>KKWSTKK"s  Waiuu.kk  (//.  le!iC(>hroiiilii(i/is)A)o\.\\  suppo.sed 
to  l.'j  liybrids  of  H.pinus  and   //.  c/nyso/'frra. 

Mr.  V.  ^L  Chapman  statis  that  he  saw  a  typical  Uitcobronchialis 
in  New  Jersey  in  May,  iS^o. 

Tmw  \si:\d"s  Wakhm-.k  {Deiuhoica  to\,'nscndii).  described  by 
•Nutl.dl  and  named  in  honor  of  its  discoverer,  is  a  rare  bird  of  the 
I'ar  West,  and  its  claim  to  mention  liere  rests  on  the  accidental 
occurrence  of  one  example  near  I'hiladeii)hia  in  1868. 


HOLSF,   WREN. 
WOOD  \VKi:x. 

Tk(k;i.()1)\  IKS  .\i:i)()\. 

Char.  Above,  reddish  l)r(p\vn  (sonietimcs  witli  daik  bars),  darkt  i  "n 
the  head;  Ijclow,  brownish  wliitc,  iiiarl<i.(l  irri,i;iihirly  witli  dark  hiu/^, 
wings  and  tail  witli  Tme  waved  lines.     I.ength  about  5  inches. 

.\',s/.  On  the  caves  of  houses  or  in  a  barn  or  hollow  tree,  cte.  ;  mulo 
of  j^rass,  twigs,  etc. ;  tlie  liole  generally  fillet!  with  rubbish  and  1  i,t  ! 
with  feathers. 

/'!;'■;'■■>'•  7-');  white  tinted  with  pink,  densely  marked  with  retlilish 
l)rown ;  0.65  X  0.50. 

This  lively,  cheerful,  capricious,  ami  well-known  little  min- 
strel is  only  a  siuiimer  resident  in  tlie  United  States.  lt> 
northern  migrations  extend  to  Labrador,  but  it  resides  ;uid 
rears  its  yotmg  ]irincipally  in  the  Middle  States.  My  fririid 
Mr.  Say  also  observed  this  species  near  Penibino,  beyond  the 
sources  of  the  Mississi])pi,  in  the  Western  wilderness  of  the 
49th  degree  of  latitude.  It  is  likewise  said  to  be  an  inhabitant 
of  Surinam,  within  the  tropics,  where  its  delightful  melody  \n^ 
gained  it  the  nickname  of  the  Nightingale.  This  region,  or 
the  intermediate  coimtry  of  Mexico,  is  probably  the  winter 
quarters  of  our  domestic  favorite.  In  Louisiana  it  is  unknnwii 
even  as  a  transient  visitor,  migrating  api)arently  to  the  east  nt 


tree,  etc.  ;   m  k 


)\vn  little  inin- 
'd  States.  Its 
it  resides  ;in(l 
;s.  My  friend 
lo,  beyond  the 
lerness  of  iIk' 
)  an  inhabitant 
fill  melod\  has 
I'his  region,  or 
bly  the  wiiittr 
it  is  iinkiviwn 
•  to  the  e;i-t  < 


''<Jt-.si.:  WRKv. 


''i''  'Mississii)t)i    ..r.  I       ,  ~^? 

•^'""^'  time  in  the  eirlv  . 


en 


'y  over  the  fiat 


^'""'■^•>  near  the  house 


of  f)r(: 


IS  pi 


'P''',i,Mti()n.     H 


^•^;^;>res  u-hirh  pr,sM 


I'cinote 


'"'■"^''-  "".ler  a  shed 


u'</).ird  tree;  ali 


'«  placed   beneath  th' 


'■^  "^'^t,  from  pr^.f. 


whrii 


ISO 


oiit-h 


e  ea\ 


I^rovided  Mith  th 


in  the  deserted  cell 


'^"■^^',  barn,  or 


\vitli  the  Muni 


^'  conwnien 


:^^t''^'^^oodperk 


HI  ,in  old  h, 


tr.io 


('C 


"•'^  ''nd  J51ucl,ird 
'^'  "'"■'^•'J  np,  and 


^•^'.  ni  a  \v<)o(]cn  1 


■^■•'^.  in  some 
n  .1  hollow 
(^T,  and 


'^e  will  m.ik 


^f'x  along 


i^in-  one  d 
■'^"  P'Ttinac 


'>  or  the  skull  of 


-positi 


an  ox 


StlK 


P^^'-'-orated  ui,h  a  ho 


loii 


'"''  '"n  the  ixH-i, 


vcniriice  and 


n 

th, 
h 


IX) 


'n,  an  inst 


■^  ''^  the  House  \\ 
protection  of  h 


'^  "P'>n  a  |),,it 


e  his  nest 
'le  for 


e\-en 


•Tid  .\udnl 


11- 

)on 


'■^■n  'n  thus  cl, 


"man  so, 


'leev 


■<-'  of  a  mow 


'"'•■^  once  occurred  wh 


'^■'y  th.it 


own  (■ 
'iiniiiir  t 


:irn,i<re. 


of 


IS    s 


"''-  "P  accidentally  fo 

"'^'   nest   of  th 
"""^'    other   knuu 
'^''''^'I'^^e   of  contri. 

"'"  "'    "-'^^^    -    stron 
""■■'i    labor 


''-';  ^oat,  which,  in  ,1 


r  tu 


■o  or  three   ,[ 


^''■^"  a  nest  \v;,. 
'"■'  month  of  I 


'^  t'le  c-on- 
'  •"'•ordino-  to 


mad 
lint 


O-'^  m 


L'  in 
"•as 


•I   .^hed  n 


<-'ar  a 


'!;^^^"'^^S   thoii.rh    J, 


JS 


still 


'CSS    ciir 


i'''"-^'d  ben 
""lis  to  tl 


tea 


an( 
Ih  th 


'^'ance.     'j'| 

f^    outwork 
'"fe^^'niiity.     Uh 


<^'onstnirted 


he    e\ 


"•riial 


'""s   than   that 
"■'"'    ^-onsideral.le 


"'"    Mick: 


le 


^  caves,  or 


■n    ih 


roofofthebuiM 


ni  some  ot; 


^'     'K'.st. 


•'I'proach    is    I 
''    '"'^•'•'ac:ed    with 


)ar. 


'  '''  »<-''rIy  closed 
portion  of  the 


nier 


hy  th 


ng,  th 


^^  ^"rmidal 


^  access  to  th 


"^■'"  -M'tiiation 


therefore, 


IS 


^'^^^  is  alone  left 


"c  niass  of  tw 


contig- 
^'  nmer  f,hric 


:s  that 


op-n  for  the  fcmal, 


268 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


just  sufficient  for  her  to  creep  in  and  out.  Witliin  this  judi- 
cious fort  is  placed  the  proi)er  nest,  of  tlie  usual  liemisplicrii  al 
figure,  formed  of  layers  of  dried  stalks  of  grass,  and  lined  \vi'!i 
feathers.  The  eggs,  from  6  to  9,  are  of  a  reddish  flesh-color, 
sprinkled  all  over  with  ninumerable  fine  grains  of  a  somewli  it 
deei)er  tint.  They  generally  rear  two  broods  in  the  season  ; 
the  first  take  to  flight  about  the  beginning  of  June,  and  ihe 
second  in  July  or  August.  The  young  are  early  capable  nf 
providing  for  their  own  subsistence  and  twittering  forth  their 
petulant  cry  of  alarm.  It  is  both  jjleasant  and  amusing  uj 
observe  the  sociability  and  activity  of  these  recent  nurslin^^'s, 
who  seem  to  move  in  a  body,  throwing  themselves  into  amic 
attitudes,  often  crowding  together  into  the  old  nests  of  other 
birds,  and  for  some  time  roosting  near  their  former  cradle, 
under  the  affectionate  eye  of  their  busy  parents,  who  have 
perhaps  already  begun  to  prepare  the  same  nest  for  a  !ii\v 
progeny.  Indeed,  so  prospective  and  busy  is  the  male  that 
he  fre(]uently  amuses  himself  with  erecting  another  mansion 
even  while  his  mate  is  still  sitting  on  her  eggs ;  and  this  <i;ri- 
ous  habit  of  superfluous  labor  seems  to  be  more  or  less  comiinjii 
to  the  whole  genus. 

One  of  these  Wrens,  according  to  Wilson,  happened  to  lose 
his  mate  by  the  sly  and  ravenous  approaches  of  a  cat,  — an  ani- 
mal which  they  justly  hoM  in  abhorrence.  The  day  after  this 
important  loss,  our  little  widower  had  succeeded  in  introdu(  iiig 
to  his  desolate  mansion  a  second  partner,  whose  welcome 
appeared  by  the  ecstatic  song  which  the  bridegroom  now 
uttered;  after  this  they  remained  together,  and  reared  their 
brood.  In  the  sununer  of  1-S30  I  found  a  female  Wren  who 
had  expired  on  the  nest  in  the  abortive  act  of  laying  her  lii'-t 
egg.  I  therefore  took  away  the  nest  from  under  the  edge  of  the 
shetl  in  which  it  was  built.  The  male,  however,  contiiinfl 
round  the  place  as  before,  and  still  cheerfully  uttered  his 
accustomed  song.  Unwilling  to  leave  the  premises,  he  now 
went  to  work  and  made,  unaided,  another  dwelling,  and  alter 
a  time  brought  a  new  mate  to  take  possession;  but  less  Ihith- 
All  than  Wilson's  bird,  or  suspecting  some  lurking  danger,  ■^lie 


HOUSE   WREX. 


269 


ncd  wi'h 

;  season ; 
,  ami  liic 
:apaV)lc  of 
forth  th>  ir 
musing  vo 

nurs\ini;s, 
;  into  aniic 
ts  of  other 
-net  cradle, 

who   have 
,  for  a  n.w 
e  male  ili^U 
icr  man-^iitu 
1(1  this  i''.ii- 
ilcss  common 

encd  to  lose 
—  an  ani- 
xy  after  Uiis 
introi\\uing 
,^e  weh-ome 
ogroom  ii>'\\' 
reared  their 
,le  Wren  who 
ing  her  tir-t 
,e  edge  of  the 
jr,  conliii''''^''^ 
uttered   hi^ 
iscs,  he  no^s 
n.,  and  nuor 
but  less  I'ith- 


IfT  danije! 


•,he 


forsook  the  nest  after  entering,  and  never  laid  in  it.  Hut  still 
liu  happy  warbler  continued  his  uninterrupted  lay,  apparently 
in  solitude. 

The  song  of  our  familiar  Wren  is  loud,  sprightly,  and  tremu- 
lous, uttered  with  jjeculiar  aniniation,  and  Mpidly  repeated;  at 
tiist  the  voice  seems  ventriloquial  and  distant,  and  then  bursts 
tuiih  by  efforts  into  a  mellow  and  echoing  warble.  'J  he  trill- 
iii-.  hurried  notes  seem  to  reverberate  frc^m  the  leafy  branches 
'.\]  which  the  musician  sits  obscured,  or  are  heard  from  the  low 
roof  of  the  vine-mantled  cottage  like  the  shrill  and  unwearied 
jiipe  of  some  sylvan  elf.  The  strain  is  continued  even  tluring 
the  sultry  noon  of  the  summer's  day,  when  most  of  the  feath- 
tud  songsters  seek  repose  and  shelter  from  the  heat.  His 
lively  and  querulous  ditty  is,  however,  still  accomi)anied  by 
the  slower-measured,  pathetic  chant  of  the  Red-eyed  Idy- 
rilcher,  the  meandering,  tender  warble  of  the  Musical  Vireo, 
or  the  occasional  loud  mimicry  of  the  Catbird ;  the  whole 
finning  an  aerial,  almost  celestial  concert,  which  never  tires 
the  ear.  Though  the  general  i)erforman(  e  of  our  Wren  bears 
no  ini onsiderable  resemblance  to  that  of  the  I'.uropean  s])ecies, 
vet  his  voice  is  louder,  and  his  execution  much  more  varied  and 
(lilii^htf  1.  He  is  rather  a  bold  and  insolent  intruder  upon  those 
hirds  wh  reside  near  him  or  claim  the  same  accommodation. 
He  tVe(iuently  causes  the  mild  Hluebird  or  the  Martin  to  relin- 
(]lli^h  their  hereditary  claims  to  the  garden  box,  and  has  been 
adiisc'd  also  of  sucking  their  eggs.  Xor  is  he  any  better  con- 
tented with  neighbors  of  his  own  fraternity  who  settle  near  him, 
krriMiig  u]i  frequent  scjuabbles,  like  other  little  busybodies, 
who  are  never  hajipy  but  in  mischief;  so  that  upon  the  whole, 
though  we  may  justly  admire  the  fine  talents  of  tliis  petulant 
domestic,  he  is,  like  many  other  actors,  merely  a  good  per- 
tonner.  He  is  still  u]iou  the  whole  a  real  friend  to  the  firmer 
and  horticulturist,  by  the  ntuuber  of  injurious  insects  and  their 
il'Mnictive  larvae  on  which  both  he  and  his  numerous  family 
suli-;st.  Ifold  and  fearless,  seeking  out  every  advantageous 
as:,oi  ialion,  and  making  u])  in  activity  what  he  may  lack  in 
strength,  he  does  not  confine  his  visits  to  the  cottage  or  the 


J70 


SIN'filNTl    BIRDS. 


country,  but  may  often  l)c  heard  on  the  tops  of  honses  even  in 
tlic  midst  of  the  city,  warbUng  with  his  usual  energy. 

The  House  Wren  is  ;i  common  suinmer  resident  of  .Massaehu 
setts,  l)Ut  is  rarely  seen  north  of  tliis  Slate. 

Tile  oidv  instance  of  its  occurrence  in  \e\v  Urunswielv  is  that  ol 
a  pair  seen  at  Grand  Falls  by  Mr.  C.  F.  liatchelder.  It  is  faiilv 
common  near  Montreal  and  tluougli  southern  Ontario,  and  i> 
abundant  in  Manitoba.  It  wiiUers  in  the  .Middle  States  and 
southward. 

NoTiv  — A  Western  form  —distinguished  from  true  ncdon  by  the 
prevalence  of  gray  on  its  upper  parts  and  its  more  di.slinct  bars  on 
the  back  —  occurs  from  Illinois  and  Manitoba  westward.  Thiols 
Pakkman's  \\'ki:n  (  /'.  acdon  f^arkiiuDiii). 

The  Wood  Wkf.n  (  /'.  ainciicaiiits),  mentioned  bv  Nutlall  on  the 
authority  of  .\uduI)on,  should  have  been  referred  to  7".  acdon. 


WI.Xri'R    WRKN. 
Tro(;i.<)1)N  ris  ini..MAi,i.s. 

Char.  Above,  reddish  brown,  hiiglitest  on  the  rump,  market!  with  duk 
waved  lines  ;  winLjs  duskv,  willi  dark  bars  and  wliitc  spots  ;  under  |>.ii:.> 
jialer  brown,  belly  and  under  tail-covcrts  with  dark  bars.  Ix'ngth  ah  na 
4  inches. 

y\^v7.     .\t  tlie  for)t  of  a  nio.<sci)Vcred  stump,  or  mider  a  f.dleii  tree,  or 
amid  a  pile  of  brush;  composed  of  tsvigs  and  moss,  lined  with  fcathci<. 
4-6;  white,  spotted,  chietly  near  the  larger  end,  with  reddi-h 


Ei 


brown  and  pi 


0.70  X  o.  ^o. 


This  little  winter  visitor,  which  aiiproaches  the  Middle  Stati 


in  the   month  of  October, 


seems  scarcely  in  any  way  disiiii- 


guishablc  from  the  Common  Wren  of  hairope.  It  sometillu■^ 
passes  the  winter  in  Pennsylvania,  and  acconling  to  Audubon 
even  breeds  in  the  (Ireat  Pine  Swamp  in  that  State,  as  well  > 
in  New  York.  Marly  in  the  sjiring  it  is  seen  on  its  returiiin,' 
route  to  tlie  Xorthwest.  Mr.  Say  observed  it  in  summer  ii<  .ir 
the  base  of  the  Rocky  Motmtains  ;  it  was  also  seen,  at  the 
same  season,  on  the  \Vhite  Mountains  of  New  Mampshire  In 
the  scientific   exploring  party  of  Dr.  r.igelow,  Messrs.  lloott 


WINTER   \VKi:.\. 


271 


s  even  Ml 


Massaclui 

k  is  lli.vt  (M' 
U  is  iiiiilv 

vio.  and  i^ 
suites    and 


aofonhy  the 
incl  liars  on 
ard.     'I'lii^  is 

NuUallonlhe 
'.  acdon. 


avkcd  \vitli  (Ink 

l)ts  ;  under  i>.ii'> 

Length  al-'H 

a  fallen  Ucc,  ^v 
with  tcalhoi- 
Ll,  with  reda-.-ii 


Middle  Si  lU- 
^y  way  di-iin- 
It  somoiinu'- 
U  to  Atulul'ii" 
;ato,  as  well  ;^ 
its  retuvnin;: 
Slimmer  n.-ir 
seen,  at   il^' 
lllamiishire  I'v 
1  Messrs.  1'-'"'^^ 


and  Gray,  so  that  it  must  retire  to  the  Western  or  mountainous 
.solituiles  to  i)ass  the  period  of  incubation.  Mr.  Townsend 
iililained  specimens  of  this  binl  in  the  ibrests  of  the  CoUim- 
hia.  During  its  residence  in  the  Middle  Slates  it  frecjuents 
the  broken  banks  of  rivulets,  old  roots,  and  decayed  logs  near 
watery  phces  in  quest  of  its  insect  food.  As  in  luirope,  it  also 
a[iiiroaches  the  farm-house,  examines  the  wood-pile,  erecting 
its  tail,  and  creeping  into  the  interstices  like  a  mouse.  It 
I'reiiuently  mounts  on  some  projecting  object  and  sings  with 
gre/il  animation.  In  the  gardens  and  outhouses  of  the  city  it 
aiipears  ecpially  familiar  as  the  more  common  House  Wren. 

The  Wren  has  a  pleasing  warble,  and  much  louder  than 
might  be  expected  from  its  diminutive  si/.e.  Its  song  likewise 
continues  more  or  less  throughout  the  year,  —  even  during  the 
])r(  \alence  of  a  snowstorm  it  has  been  heard  as  cheerful  as 
c\cr :  it  likewise  continues  its  note  till  very  late  in  the  evening, 
tiiough  not  after  dark. 

'1  "his  species  is  common  tlu'ougliout  the  Eastern  States,  breeding 
in  northern  New  KngUmd  and  north  to  tiie  (lulf  of  St.  Lawrence, 
and  westward  through  northern  Ohio  and  Ontario  to  Manitoba. 
During  the  summer  it  occurs  also,  sparingly,  on  the  Berkshire  Hills 
in  .Massachusetts.     It  winters  from  about  40^  southward. 

II  id  Xuttall  ever  met  with  the  Winter  Wren  in  its  summer 
liaiiiUs  ;  had  he  heard  its  wild  melody  break  the  stilhiess  of  tlie 
hird's  forest  liome,  or  known  t)f  the  power  controlled  by  that  tiny 
throstle  and  of  its  capacity  for  brilliant  e.\eeution  :  hatl  lie  but  once 
listened  to  its  sweet  and  impassioned  tone.s,  and  the  suggestive 
joyousness  of  its  rapid  trills;  had  Xuttall.  in  short,  ever  lieard 
tlu'  bird  sing,  —  he  could  not,  surely,  have  damned  it  with  sueh 
f;iiiii  i)raise. 

The  song  of  tliis  Wren  is  not  well  known,  for  the  bird  seldom 
siii-s  beyond  the  nesting  period,  and  then  is  rarely  iieard  away 
from  tlie  woodland  groves.  But  once  heard,  the  soni;  is  not  soon 
fori;(]tten  ;  it  is  so  wild  and  sweet  a  lav.  and  is  thui.i;'  upon  tlie 
woodland  quiet  with  such  encrgv,  sueh  hilarious  abandon,  that  it 
ionmiands  attention.  Its  merits  entitle  it  to  rank  among  the  best 
of  our  svlvan  melodies. 


CAROLINA    WREN. 

MOCKING    WREN. 

TnRV( )  11  K  )KLS    I.LIH  niClAN'US, 

CllAU.  Al)ovc,  rcckli-sli  brown,  witli  fine  bhick  bars  ;  l)c!ow,  tawny  biift : 
long  line  over  tlie  eye  white  or  buff  ;  wings  and  tail  witii  dark  h.\\>. 
Length  5^2  to  6  inches. 

A'l's/.  In  any  available  hole,  often  in  liollow  tree,  sometimes  in  bnbh 
heap,  usually  in  the  woods  ;  composed  of  grass,  leaves,  etc.,  someiiii)!- 
fastened  with  corn-silk,  lined  with  feathers,  grass,  or  horse-hair. 

^'■\%'^'-  3-6;  white,  with  pink  or  buff  tint,  thickly  speckled  arouiii! 
larger  end  with  reddish  brown  ;  0.75  X  0.60. 

This  remarkable  mimicking  and  Musical  Wren  is  a  constair. 
resident  in  the  Sonthern  States  from  Virginia  to   Morida.  lr;'i 
is  rarely  seen  at  any  season  north  of  the  line  of  Maryland  or 
Delaware,  though,  attracted  by   the  great  river-courses,   it  \- 
abundant  from   Pittsburg  to  New  Orleans.     A  few  individual- 
stray,  in  the  course  of  the  spring,  as  far  as  the  line  of  NH' 
York,  and  appear  in  New  Jersey  and  the  vicinity  of  Phil:  ik: 
phia  early  in  the  month  of  May.     On  the   lyth  of  Apri],  ri- 
turning  from  a  Southern  tour  of  great  extent,  T  again  recognizci 
my  old  and   pleasing  acquaintance,  by  his   usual    note,   nt:.: 
Chester,  on  the  Delaware,  where.  T  have  little   doubt.  ;!  ft^'M 
remain    and   pass   the    summer,   retiring   to    the    South   onh  1 


CAROLINA   WREN. 


^7'i 


below,  tawny  I'liff; 
il  wit\>  cUuk  I'.uv 

sometimes  in  bvn-h 


•s,  etc.,  somei •">•:« 
^e-hair. 
speckled  arouna 


l-cn  is  a  con^talll 
to  I'loriila.  l>".t 
lof  Maryland  or 
[er-courscs,  U  i- 
few  indivulU'^l^ 
Ihc  Vine  of  Nf^'' 
lity  of  rhib>K; 

l^th  of  AP'-'^'  ''\ 
-icrnin  recognize*: 
Isual  note,  nc-- 
Je  donbt,  :'.  f^"^' 
Ithe    South   onl'; 


as  the  weather  becomes  inclement.  On  the  banks  of  the 
Patnpsco,  near  IJaltimore,  their  song  is  still  heard  to  the  close 
of  November. 

Our  bird  has  all  the  petulance,  courage,  industry,  and  famili- 
aiilv  of  his  particular  tribe.  He  delights  to  sur\ey  the  mean- 
ders of  peaceful  streams,  and  dwell  amitlst  the  shady  trees 
wliich  adorn  their  banks.  His  choice  seems  to  convey  a  taste 
for  the  })icturesque  and  beautiful  in  Nature,  himself,  in  the 
foreground,  forming  one  of  the  most  pleasing  attractions  of 
llu'  scene.  Ai)proaching  the  waterfall,  he  associates  with  its 
niiirinurs  the  presence  of  the  Kingfisher,  and  modulating  the 
ho.irse  rattle  of  his  original  into  a  low.  varied,  desponding  note, 
he  sits  on  some  depending  bough  by  the  stream,  and  calls,  at 
intervals,  in  a  slow  voice,  tcc-yiirrh  tcc-ylirrh,  or  c/ir''r' r' r'rh. 
\w  the  tall  trees  by  the  silent  stream,  he  recollects  the  lively, 
cuuunon  note  of  the  Tufted  Titmouse,  and  repeats  the/<7('  /^(/o 
pc/o  pi'ct,  or  his  peevish  kati-tcdiil,  katih'diii,  katcdiJ.  While 
gleaning  low,  amidst  fallen  leaves  and  brushwood,  for  hiding 
and  dormant  insects  and  worms,  he  perhaps  brings  up  the  note 
of  his  industrious  neighbor,  the  Oroimd  Robin,  and  sets  to  his 
own  sweet  and  li(iuids  tones  the  simple  towcrf  foicwrf  foa'rrf. 
The  tremulous  trill  of  the  Pine  Warbler  is  then  recollected, 
and  //■';•'/•';-'/•■';•'/•/;  is  whistled.  In  die  next  breath  comes  his 
imitation  of  the  large  Woodpecker,  7iiflifv  7C'oify  7C'<>//v  and 
:^'i'/r/iy  7iwtchy  ivotcliy,  or  fs/icTYC  fsli<iV('r  tsliof,  and  tshooddee 
UhiUiadcc  tshooadcct,  then  varied  to  tslitivai  tsliiivai  tslntrat,  and 
tiHKdiiah  tooviuiijh  toovaiiatoo.  Next  comes  perhaps  his  more 
miiMial  and  pleasing  version  of  the  P)la(-kbird's  short  song, 
U'oKilshee  ivottitshcc  icof/ifs/irr.  'Vo  the  >ame  smart  tunc  is 
now  set  a  chosen  part  of  the  drawling  song  of  the  Mcailow 
1  irk,  prcced'}  prcccdo  prcccff.  then  varied,  rccedo  rrcedo  irccct 
anil  tcccdo  tcccdo  tcccct ;  or  changing  to  a  bass  key,  he  tunes 
iootcct  sootcct  soot.  Once,  I  heard  this  indefitigable  mimic 
;Utein[it  delightfully  the  warble  of  the  Illuebird  in  the  niontli  of 
February.  The  bold  whisde  of  the  Cardinal  Pird  is  another 
of  the  soimds  he  delights  to  imitate  and  repeat  in  his  f)wn 
quaint  manner;  such  as  vit-yh  vit-yii  vit-yit,  and  vishnit  vishnu 

\nl  ,     I.   i,S 


2/4 


SINGING   151 KDS. 


rishiiii,  then  his  ivoitce  u<oiti\'  -a-'oi/ii-  and  wiltcc  7vi7ft'c  linltec. 
.Sijon  alter  1  first  heard  the  note  of  the  White-eyed  \'ireij  in 
March,  the  CaruHna  Wren  immediately  mimicked  the  note  of 
h'cah  loi'iud  wiltcc  wcckhi.  Some  of  tliese  notes  would  appear 
to  be  recollections  of  the  i^ast  season,  as  imitations  of  the 
Maryland  \'ello\v-'rhroat  {^wittiscc  ivitliscc  uittisec  "ioit,  aiiil 
s/ic-iL'iu\/i/  slu'i^'a'ulit  shcwaidit),  not  yet  heard  or  arrived  within 
the  boundary  of  the  United  States.  So  also  his  tslicrry  tshcny 
tsJicrry  tshup  is  one  of  the  notes  of  the  Jjaltimore  Bird,  yet  in 
South  America. 

While  at  Tuscaloosa,  about  the  20th  of  [''ebruary,  one  of 
these  Wrens,  on  the  borders  of  a  garden,  sat  and  repeated  for 
some  time  tshc--i^<iiiskcc  -n.<liiskcc  ivhiskcc,  then  soolalt  soohiit 
soolait ;  another  of  his  jjlirases  is  tshiikai/cc  tshiikui/cc  tshiiLa- 
dcctshoo  and  chj ibujax  clij il>Khn-  c/ij iliKuiVy  uttered  quick ;  the 
first  of  these  expressions  is  in  imitation  of  one  of  the  notes  ot 
the  Scarlet  Tanager.  Amidst  these  imitations  and  variations, 
which  seem  almost  endless,  and  lead  the  stranger  to  imaL^ine 
himself,  even  in  the  depth  of  winter,  surrounded  by  all  the 
quaint  choristers  of  the  summer,  there  is  still,  with  our  ( apri- 
cious  and  tuneful  mimic,  a  favorite  theme  more  constantly 
and  regidarly  re]:)eated  than  the  rest.  This  was  also  the  first 
sound  that  1  heard  from  him,  delivered  with  great  spirit,  thoni,']! 
in  the  dreary  month  of  January.  This  sweet  and  melodious 
ditty,  Iscc-toot  tscc-toot  tscc-toot,  and  sometimes  tscc-toot  / •"- 
toot  sect,  was  usually  uttered  in  a  somewiiat  ])laintive  or  tender 
strain,  varied  at  each  repetition  with  the  most  delightful  mid 
delicate  tones,  of  which  no  conception  can  be  formed  witliout 
experience.  That  this  song  has  a  sentimental  air  may  be  >  on- 
ceived  from  its  interpretation  by  the  youths  of  the  country, 
who  i)retend  to  hear  it  say  s'ccct-Jicarf  sivcct-hcart  sweet !  Nor 
is  the  illusion  more  than  the  natural  truth  ;  for,  usually,  thi:^ 
affectionate  ditty  is  answered  by  its  mate,  sometimes  in  the 
same  note,  at  others,  in  a  different  call.  In  most  cases  it  will 
be  remarked  that  the  phrases  of  our  songster  are  uttered  in 
3's  ;  by  this  means  it  will  generally  be  practicable  to  distinuiish 
its  performance  from  that  of  other  birds,  and  particularly  iVdih 


CAROLINA    \VKi:\. 


275 


iltcc  linltec. 
jil  Vivcu  ill 

ould  appear 
.ions  of  iIk; 
ec  wit,  aivl 
i-rived  willuii 
hcrry  ts/n/n 
Bird,  yet  in 

ruary,  one  of 
repeated  twr 
iooliiii  >-ooldit 
kui/iC  tshiikd- 
,'d  quick ;  lUe 
jf  the  notes  ot 
and  variations, 
ger  to  imaL^ine 
led  by  all  the 
with  our  caiiri- 
lore   constaiuly 
,s  also  the  fust 
|t  spirit,  thoirji 
iind  melodi'iib 
tscr-toot  />"■■ 
lUive  or  tender 
delightful  :U1(1 
[ormed  widiont 
r  may  he  <  ""' 
If  the  couiurv, 
rts-iocd!  N'>r 
■,  usually,  thb 
.etirnes  in  the 
ist  cases  it  wiH 
are  uttered  m 
to  distiuLi'iish 
Irticularly  I'low 


ilic  Cardinal  (Irosbeak,  whose  expressions  ii  often  closely  inii- 
lales  both   in   power  and  delivery.      I   hliall   ne\er,   1    helii'si., 


.•t  Ih 


e  soolhiuLr  ^,ali.->ra(  lion  and  amusement  1  derived  fi 


oni 


thiri  iitUe  constant  and  unwearied  niiiislrel,  my  sole  vocal  coni- 
|i,inion  through  many  weary  miles  of  a  vast,  desolate,  and 
(ilherwise  cheerless  wilderness.  \el  with  all  his  readiness  to 
se  hy  his   I'rotean  song,  the  epitome  of  all  he   had  ever 


aimi 


IkmiiI   or   recollecleil,   he   was    slul   studious  of  concealment 


•veeiimy 


busily 


engaged  near  the  ground,  or  in  low  thickets,  in 


(|iiesl  of  his  food  ;  and  when  in-  mounted  a  log  or  brush  pile, 
wITu  h  he  had  just  examined,  his  color,  so  similar  to  the  fallen 
leaves  and  wintry  livery  of  Nature,  often  prevented  me  from 
i;, lining  a  glimpse  of  this  wonderful  and  interesting  mimic. 

hike  the  preceding  species,  he  has  restless  activity  and  a 
l.>\e  for  prying  into  the  darkest  corners  after  his  prey,  and  is 

i(  inity  of  ri\ers  and  wet  ])laces, 


larlv  attached  to  the  v 


ji.ntKai 

when  not  surrounded  by  gloomy  shade.  His  (juick  and  capri- 
( iDUs  motions,  antic  jerks,  and  elevated  tail  resemble  the  actions 
oftlie  House  \\'ren.  Imager  and  lively  in  his  contracted  tlight, 
hefore  shifting  he  (piickly  throws  himst'lf  forward,  so  as  nearly 
to  touch  his  ])erch  ])revious  to  springing  from  his  legs.  In 
Tuscaloosa  and  other  towns  in  Alabama  he  a]ipeared  fre(|ueiuly 
uiKin  the  tops  of  the  barns  and  out-houses,  delivering  with 
ciurgv  his  varied  and  desultory  lay.  At  Tallahassee,  in  \\'est 
Morida,  T  observed  one  of  these  birds  chanting  near  the  door 
of  a  cottage,  and  occasionally  imitating,  in  his  way,  the  stiuall- 
inu  iifthe  crying  child  within,  so  that,  like  the  Mocking  liird, 
all  -ounds,  if  novel,  contribute  to  his  amusement. 

'I'his  species  is  cmninnn  in  the  Soutlieni  States  and  north  to  40"". 
hciii^- extremely  abundant  in  southern  Illinois,  and  it  oei  aidonaiiy 
wanders  to  northern  Ohio  and  to  Massachusetts. 


XoTi-.       The  Fi.oiui)\  Wki:n-  (  7".  lu.lovinaiin-i  ii:id)iirnsis)  is 
a  lar-cr.  darker  form,  which  is  restricted  to  soudieastern  ITorichi. 


276 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


BI':WICK'S  WREN. 

LONG-TAll.LD    HOUSE   WREN. 
'rilKVOlHOKUS    UlAVICKU. 

Char.  Above,  chestnut  brown ;  wings  and  tail  with  dark  bars;  buff 
stripe  over  eye;  below,  dull  white;  Hanks  bruwn.  Length  5  to  5'j 
inches. 

Al-sf.  Almost  anywhere.  In  settled  districts  it  is  usually  built  in  ,1 
crevice  of  a  house  or  barn ;  but  in  the  woods  a  hollow  tree  or  stump  is 
selected,  or  a  clump  of  bushes.  Composed  of  a  mass  of  leaves, grass,  etc., 
roughly  put  together. 

^w^.  4_7;  white  or  with  pink  tint,  thickly  marked  with  fine  spots  of 
reddish  brown  and  purple;  0.65  X  0.50. 

For  the  discovery  of  this  beautiful  species  of  Wren,  appar- 
ently allied  to  the  preceding,  with  which  it  seems  nearly  to 
agree  in  size,  we  are  intlebted  to  the  indefatigable  Audubon,  in 
whose  splendid  work  it  is  for  the  first  time  figured.  It  was 
observed  by  its  discoverer,  towards  the  approach  of  winter,  in 
the  lower  part  of  Louisiana.  Its  manners  are  very  similar  to 
those  of  other  species,  but  instead  of  a  song,  at  this  season  it 
only  uttered  a  low  twitter. 

Dr.  Dachman  found  this  species  to  be  the  most  prevalent  of 
any  other  in  the  mountains  of  Virginia,  particularly  about  the 
Salt  Suli)hur  Springs,  where  they  breed  and  pass  the  season. 
The  notes  bear  some  resemblance  to  those  of  the  Winter  Wren, 
being  scarcely  louder  or  more  connected.  From  their  hal)it  of 
prying  into  holes  and  h(jllow  logs  they  are  supposed  to  bret'd  in 
such  situations.  Mr.  Trudeau  believes  that  they  breed  in  loni- 
siana.  In  the  marshy  meadows  of  the  ^Vahlamet  Mr.  Townsciid 
and  myself  frecpiently  saw  this  species,  accompanied  by  the 
yoimg,  as  early  as  the  month  of  May,  At  this  time  they  have 
much  the  habit  and  manners  of  the  Marsh  ^^'ren,  and  probalily 
nest  in  the  tussocks  of  rank  grass  in  which  we  so  frequcntlv 
saw  them  gleaning  their  prey.  They  were  now  shy,  and  ranly 
seen  in  the  vicinity  of  our  camp. 

Bewick's  Wren  is  abundant  along  the  Mississippi  valley,  but  is 
rarely  seen  east  of  tlie  Alleghanies  or  north  of  latitude  40°. 


SII0RT-I5ILLED   MARSH    WRLN. 


277 


■k  bars ;  buff 

lly  buill  in  ;i 
(;  or  stunii;  is 
.•cs,  gVilSs,  •-■l^'i 

li  fine  spots  of 


^Vren,  api):ir- 
ms  nearly  to 

AutUibon,  in 
Lired.     It  was 

of  winter,  in 
.-cry  similar  to 

this  season  it 

it  prevalent  of 
irly  abottt  the 
;s  the  season. 
^V inter  Wren, 
their  hahit  of 
;e(l  to  breod  m 
breed  in  1  oui- 
iMr.Townscml 
)anied  by  the 
:ime  they  have 
[,  and  probably 
so  frequcntlv 
Ishy,  and  rarely 

Li  valley,  but  is 
lide  4o°- 


SHORr-BILLED   iMARSH   WREN. 

Clb'l'O'rilUKLS    blLXLAKLS. 

("IIAR.  Above,  brown,  very  dark  on  trown  and  back,  and  streaked 
c\erywliere  witli  white;  winys  and  tail  with  dark  bar.>  ;  below,  luitly 
white,  i)aler  oil  throat  and  belly;  breast  and  sides  sluuled  with  brown. 
Leii,i;tli  4/j  inches. 

.\',.>/.  On  the  giound,  amid  a  tuft  of  high  grass,  in  fresh-water  marsh  or 
sw.unpy  meadow  ;  eoinposiji.1  of  grass,  lined  with  vegetable  chnvn.  Usu- 
ally the  tojjs  of  surrounding  grass  are  weaved  above  the  nest,  leaving  an 
cniiaiice  at  the  side. 

/i^'-i.     6-t);  white;  065  X  0.50. 

This  amusing  and  nut  unmusical  little  species  inhabits  the 
lowest  marshy  meadows,  but  docs  not  frequent  the  reed- flats. 
It  never  \  isits  cultivated  grounds,  and  is  at  all  limes  shy,  timid, 
and  suspicious.  It  arrives  in  this  part  of  Massachusetts  about 
the  close  of  the  first  week  in  May,  and  retires  to  the  SotUh  by 
the  middle  of  September  at  farthest,  probably  by  night,  as  it  is 
ne\  er  seen  in  progress,  so  that  its  northern  resilience  is  only 
lirulonged  about  four  months.  In  winter  this  bird  is  seen  from 
South  Carolina  to  Texas. 

His  presence  is  announced  by  his  lively  and  quaint  song  of 
'tsh  '/s//i/>,  a  (/ay  day  day  day,  delivered  in  haste  and  earnest 
at  short  intervals,  either  when  he  is  mounted  on  a  tuft  of 
sedge,  or  while  perching  on  some  low  bush  near  the  skirt  of 
the  marsh.  The  'tsh  'tship  is  uttered  with  a  strong  aspiration, 
and  the  remainder  with  a  guttural  echo.  While  thus  engaged, 
hi^  head  and  tail  are  alternately  dejiressed  and  elevated,  as  if 
thi'  little  odd  performer  were  fixed  on  a  pivot.  Sometimes  the 
note  varies  to  'Uhip  'txhip  '/<Iiia,  dh'  dW  dW  d/i\  the  latter 
part  being  a  pleasant  trill.  When  approached  too  closely,  — 
\vhi(  h  not  often  ha]")pened,  as  he  never  permitted  me  to  come 
within  two  or  three  feet  of  his  station,  —  his  song  became 
har-h  and  more  hurried,  like  ^fsJiip  da  da  da,  and  dc  dc  dc  de 
(P  (/'  dli,  or  fshc  dc  dc  dc  dc,  rising  into  an  angry,  ])etulant  cry, 
sometimes  also  a  low.  hoarse,  and  scolding  r/(«V//  da'h^h ;  then 
attain  on  invading  the  nest  the  sound  sank  to  a  plaintive  Ush 


278 


SINliINc;    IJIKDS. 


A////,  'till  tship.  In  tlic  early  pari  of  llic  bri'tdiiii^  season  ihc 
male  is  very  lively  and  nnisical,  ami  in  his  best  liiuuur  he  luiu> 
up  a  'tsliip  'tship  Isliip  a  i/cc,  with  a  pleasantly  warbkd  and 
reiterated  (/c.  At  a  later  period  another  male  uiUivd  liille  else 
than  a  hoarse  and  guttnral  tAi/i^//,  hardly  luiider  than  the  croak- 
ing of  a  frog.  When  ujjproaehed,  these  birds  repeatedly  (les(  end 
into  the  grass,  where  they  s[)end  much  of  their  time  in  ([UeNt  of 
insects,  chielly  crustaceous,  which  with  moths,  constitute  (lnii 
l)rincipal  fooil  ;  here,  unseen,  they  still  sedulously  utter  tin.  ir 
quaint  warbling,  and  /s///p  tsliip  a  day  Jay  (/ay  (/ay  may  fur 
about  a  month  from  their  arrival  be  heard  j^leasantly  cchoiiif; 
on  a  fine  morning  from  the  borders  of  ever\  low  marsh  and  wit 
meadow  {Provided  with  tusso(-ks  of  sedge-grass,  in  which  thiy 
indisjjcnsably  dwell,  for  a  time  engaged  in  the  cares  and  gr  iti- 
fication  of  raising  and  ])rovi<bng  for  their  young. 

The  nest  of  the  Short-billed  Marsh  ^\'ren  is  made  whol]\  ot 
dry  or  jiartly  green  sedge,  bent  usually  from  the  top  of  ihu 
grassy  tuft  in  which  the  fabric  is  situated,  ^^'ith  much  inge- 
nuity and  labor  these  simple  materials  are  loosely  entwined 
together  into  a  spherical  form,  with  a  small  and  ratiier  obscure 
entrance  left  in  the  side  ;  a  thin  lining  is  sometimes  addeil  to 
thr>  whole,  of  the  linty  fibres  of  the  silk- weed  or  some  other 
similar  material.  The  eggs,  pure  white  and  destitute  of  s[i()t>, 
are  ])robably  from  6  to  8.  In  a  nest  containing  7  eggs  tluTi' 
were  3  of  them  larger  than  the  rest  and  perfectly  fresh,  whik' 
the  4  siiiaZ/rr  were  far  advanced  towards  hatching  ;  from  tbi- 
circumstance  we  may  fairly  infer  that  /av>  differerii  individnali 
had  laid  in  the  same  nest,  —  a  circumstance  more  common 
among  wild  birds  than  is  generally  imagined.  This  is  also  tin 
more  remarkable  as  the  male  of  this  species,  like  many  otln'r 
Wrens,  is  much  employed  in  making  nests,  of  which  not  niori 
than  one  in  three  or  four  are  ever  occupied  by  the  females. 

The  summer  limits  of  this  species,  confounded  with  the 
ordinary  Mnrsh-^^■ren,  are  yet  unascertained  ;  and  it  is  singii- 
lar  to  remark  how  near  it  approaches  to  another  sj^ecies  in- 
habiting the  temperate  parts  of  the  southern  hemisphere  in 
America,  namely,  the  Sy/i'ia  p/afcnsis,  figured  and  indicated  by 


i,()\(;-iin.i,i:i)  marsh  wkf.x. 


279 


vurbU<l  ami 
L(l  liuU-  c^r 
n  the  crook- 
edly (k'siHiiil 
c  in  (1UL'>1  i)f 
mslimie  tluir 
ly  utter  th.  ir 
day  may  tor 
antly  echnini,' 
iiarsh  ond  '.wt 
in  whicdi  they 
ires  and  grati-        I 

nadc  whollv  ot 
:he  ti)i>  of  ihc 
ih  much  iiv^e- 
osely  entwined 
rather  obx  uro 
imes  addetl  to 
or  some  other 
.titute  of  ^l'"t>, 
|g  7  eggs  there 
■tly  fresh,  whik 
xwd,  ;  from  tb> 
•eriv  mdiviiki^ik 
more  common 
I'his  is  also  tlu 
|ike  many  other 
hic:h  not  m'-'f^ 
Ihe  females, 
tided  ^vilU  tk^' 
nd  it  is  suigu- 
her  species  in- 
hemisphe've  ii; 
d  indicated  by 


llailbn.  The  time  of  arrival  and  departnrr  in  tliis  ^|h'(  ies, 
;iL(reeing  exactly  uilii  the  appearance  of  the  Mar>h  W  reii  of 
WiUtin,  a[)i)ears  to  pro\e  tiial  it  also  exists  in  I'ennsvKania 
with  the  follo\vin,Li,  wiiose  migration,  according  to  Audubon,  is 
more  tiian  a  monili  earlier  and  later  tlian  that  of  our  bird.  Mr. 
(  iioper,  however,  has  not  been  able  to  meet  witii  it  in  the 
vii  inity  of  New  N'ork,  but  Dr.  Trudeau  found  its  nest  in  the 
iii:n>hes  of  the  Delaware. 

This  Wren  oeeurs  throuLchout  the  IkiMteni  I'roviiiee  iiortli  to 
Massachusetts  on  tlie  Athintie,  and  in  the  west  to  Manitolia,  breed- 
iii,U  generally  nortii  ol"  40^  and  winteriiiL;  in  the  (lulf  States,  it  is 
found  in  eastern  Canada  only  on  tiie  marslies  near  Lai<e  St.  Clair. 


LONG-BILLi:i)    NLAkSII    WRKN. 

ClSTO'lIloKL'S    I'M  rsiKIS. 

I'llAU.  Al)ovc,  dull  reddish  hiown,  tkukcr  on  crnwn  ;  hack  hhick, 
flunked  with  white;  white  line  ovur  eyes;  wings  and  tail  with  dark  Itais; 
i)(.lij\v,  huffy  white,  shaded  on  sides  with  l)i()wn.     Length  5  inches. 

.\\<t.  In  a  salt  niaish  or  icedy  suani|)  of  interior,  fastencil  to  reeds  or 
eat  t.iils  or  a  small  bush ;  composed  of  i;rass  and  reeds,  sometimes 
pl.istcred  with  mud,  lincil  with  tine  i^rass  or  featiiers.  It  is  bulkv  and 
siiherieal  in  form,  tiie  entrance  at  tiie  side. 

/',^'.  6-10;  generally  so  thickly  covered  with  dark-hrown  sjiots  as  to 
api'tar  uniform  chocolate  with  darker  spots;  0.65  X  0.50. 

This  retiring  inhabitant  of  marslies  and  the  wet  and  sedgy 
holders  of  rivers  arrives  in  the  Miildle  States  of  the  Union 
early  in  April,  and  retires  to  the  South  about  the  miildle  of 
()it,)l)er.  It  is  scarcely  found  to  the  north  of  the  State  of 
New  \'()rk,  its  place  in  New  England  being  usually  occupied 
In  ih.e  preceding  species,  though  a  few  individuals  are  known 
to  hreed  in  the  marshes  near  Cambridge  and  IJoston. 

It  is  a  remarkably  active  and  quaint  little  bird.  ski])ping 
ajiil  diving  about  with  great  activity  after  its  insect  food  and 
their  larviie  among  the  rank  grass  and  rushes,  near  ponds  and 
the  k)w  banks  of  rivers,  where  alone  it  alTects  to  dwell,  laying 
no  cliinis  to  the  immunities  of  the  habit. ;l)le  circle  of  man, 
hut  content  with  its  fiivorite  marshes ;  neglected  anil  seldom 


280 


siN(;i.\(;  liiUDs. 


seen,  it  rears  its  young  in  security.  The  song,  accortling  to  tlir 
observations  of  a  friend,  is  very  siniil;ir  to  tiiat  of  the  i)rece(l 
ing,  —  a  sort  of  short,  Ireinuloiis,  and  hurried  warhle.  It^ 
notes  were  even  yet  heard  in  an  inland  of  the  I)ila\vare,  o]i]mi 
site  to  l'hiladel|ilua,  as  late  as  the  nioutii  of  Se|)teuil)er,  wherr 
they  were  still  in  plenty  in  this  secluded  asyhiui.  ''"owards  the 
close  of  the  breeding  season  the  song  often  falls  ito  a  low, 

guttural,  bubbling  soiuid,  wiiii  h  appears  almost  IIk.  an  eflort  ol 
ventrilo(|uisni. 

'I'he  nest,  according  to  \\'ilson,  is  generally  suspendt  u 
among  the  reeds  and  secuiely  tied  to  them  at  a  sufticieiit 
height  ab(jve  the  access  of  the  highest  tides.  It  is  formed  of 
wet  rushes  well  intertwiste<l  together,  mixed  with  mud,  and 
fashioned  into  the  form  of  a  cocoa-nut,  having  a  small  orifu  o 
left  in  the  side  for  entrance.  The  principal  material  of  this 
nest,  as  in  the  preceding  species,  is,  however,  according  U) 
Audubon,  the  leaves  of  the  sedge-grass,  on  a  tussock  of  whii  h 
it  also  occasionally  rests.  'I'he  young  ([uit  the  nest  about  thi' 
2oth  of  June,  and  they  generally  have  a  second  '^rood  in  the 
course  of  the  season.  From  the  number  of  en-  tests  fouiul 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  residence  of  the  Mai.-,..  *  ren,  it  is 
pretty  evident  that  it  is  also  much  emi)loyed  in  the  usual 
superfluous  or  cajiricious  labor  of  the  genus.  The  pugnacidus 
character  of  the  males,  indeed,  fcjrbids  the  possibility  of  >o 
many  nests  being  amicably  occupied  in  the  near  neighborh(;od 
in  which  they  arc  commonly  found. 

This  Wren  is  common  in  suitable  localities  in  Massachusetts,  Imt 
has  not  been  found  farther  noitlnvard.  It  occurs  westward  to  ilie 
Pacific,  and  south  (in  winter)  to  tlie  ("nilf  States.  It  appears  on 
Canadian  territory  only  in  southern  Ontario  and  Manitoba. 


Note.  —  Mr.  W.  E.  D.  Scott  discovered  at  Tarpon  Springs,  Flor- 
ida, in  1888,  a  Wren  tliat  resenililes /^^/Z/^vZ/vj-,  but  differs  in  luninj; 
bars  on  tlie  upper  and  under  tail-coverts ;  also  the  ])ro\vn  color  ha.s 
a  more  decided  tinge  of  olive  than  of  rufous.  Mr.  Scott  has  named 
the  bird,  in  honor  of  his  wife,  M.MU.w's  M.\ksii  Wki:x  {Cisto- 
t/ioni\  /luu/iiiicc).  It  is  common  along  the  southwestern  coasi  of 
Florida. 


KL'liV-CRO\VNi:i)   KIN(;i.r,l', 


281 


\\\v^  10  tlv 
he  \»rccc(l 

,vaiv,  opl'"- 

rowanls  llu' 

un  cITdiI  oI 

a  sul"tui<.iit 
^  is  formed  nt 
,lh  mud,  an^l 

small  orifKO 
lateriul  of  llii^ 

accordiiv^  t» 
•sock  of  \vl»"  1^ 
nest  about  iIh' 
1  \n)u(l  in  <li^' 
>csts  fouu'l 
a-en,  it  i^ 
|l    in  the  u>u.\l 

■he  pugnacious 

lossi\)ility  of  >o 
neigiiboihuod 

jissAcbusotts,  but 

11  appeal^  on 
lanitoba. 


Ln  Spvinss,  Flor- 
[Viffcrs  in  havi'.v,- 
Ibrown  color  lv.i> 

k-.)U  has  namnl 
WkkN  iCr<to- 

Lvestern  coasi  ot 


RUr.Y-CROWN i:i)    KINCLFT. 

RkGUM'S  CAI.KNhn  a. 

Char.  Above,  olive,  briglitcr  on  ruiiip;  cioun  with  a  (hih  caled  patch 
of  ricli  scarlet,  wliitu  at  llic  l)asc,  —  wanting  in  funaiu  and  ymmg  ;  wiiiiu 
linn  around  tiic  eyes  ;  \vin,ns  and  tail  dii^i\y,  tiie  iValiiers  c(!i;ed  with  dull 
hulf;  wings  wiUi  two  while  bam,  below,  dull  while  tinged  with  butf. 
1.1  iigth  ai)()Ut  .l^'4  inches. 

.\,7.  In  woodland,  usually  patlially  pen.sile,  suspended  from  e.Mieni- 
ity  of  branch,  —  often  phued  on  lop  of  branch,  sonielnnes  against  the 
trunk,  —  on  coniferous  tree,  10  to  _^o  feet  from  the  gnnMul ;  neatly  and 
tninpaclly  made  of  shreds  of  bark,  grass,  and  moss,  lined  with  leathers  or 
hair. 

/-!vv''  '''-9!  ^bdl  white  or  I)uff,  spotted,  chielly  around  larger  eml,  wilh 
hri-ht  reddish  brown;  0.55  X  0.13. 

'I'hfse  beautiful  little  birds  pass  the  sununer  and  breedini^ 
seaM)ii  in  the  colder  parts  of  the  North  American  (  oiuineiu, 
penetrating  even  to  the  dreary  coasts  of  ("ireenland,  where,  as 
well  as  aroimd  Hudson's  Bay  and  Labrador,  they  rear  their 
yo'ing  in  sc^litude,  and  obtain  abundance  (jf  the  diminutive 
llyiiiL;  insects,  gnats,  and  cynips  on  whi(  h  wilh  small  eater- 
pill, ;r:i  they  and  their  young  deli;jtit  to  feed.  In  thi'  months  of 
()(t()l)er  and  November  the  api)r(/i'  h  of  winter  in  their  natal 
regions  stimulates  them  to  migrate  towards  the  South,  when 
the)  arrive  in  the  Ivistern  and  .Middle  Slates,  and  iVeciuent  in 
a  t'liniliar  and  unsuspicious  manner  the  gardens  and  orchards; 
how  far  they  proceed  to  the  South  is  uncertain.  On  the  12th 
of  J.muary  I  observed  them  near  Charleston,  South  Carolina, 
Willi  companies  of  Sy/r'/as  busily  darting  through  the  ever- 
greens in  swampy  situations  in  quest  of  food,  probably  minule 
lar\,e.  About  the  first  week  in  March  1  again  observed  them 
in  West  Florida  in  great  numbers,  busily  employed  for  hours 
together  in  the  tallest  trees,  some  of  \vhi(  h  were  already  un- 
folding their  blossoms,  such  as  the  majjles  and  oaks.  .About 
the  beginning  of  April  they  are  seen  in  Pennsylvania  on  their 
way  lo  the  dreary  limits  of  the  continent,  where  they  only 
arrive  towards  the  close  of  May,  so  that  in  the  extremity  of 
'heir  range  they  do  not  stay  more  than  three  months.    Wilson, 


282 


SIXGL\(J   IJIRDS. 


it  would  appear,  sometimes  met  with  them  in  Pennsyh'ania 
even  in  summer;  but  as  far  as  J  can  learn,  they  are  never  oli- 
served  in  Massachusetts  at  that  season,  and  witli  their  nest  and 
habits  of  incubation  we  are  unac(itiainted.  In  the  fall  they 
seek  society  apparently  with  tlie  Titmouse  and  Golden-Crested 
Kinglet,  with  whom  they  are  intimately  relatetl  in  habits,  ni.m- 
ners,  and  diet ;  the  whole  forming  a  busy,  silent,  roving  com- 
])any,  with  no  object  in  view  but  that  of  incessantly  gleaniiii,^ 
their  now  scanty  and  retiring  prey.  So  eagerly,  indeed,  are 
they  engaged  at  this  time  that  scarcely  feeling  sympathy 
for  each  other,  or  willing  to  die  any  death  but  that  of  famiiK, 
they  continue  almost  uninterrui)tedly  to  hunt  through  tlie  same 
tree  from  which  their  unfortunate  companions  have  just  fallen 
by  the  destructive  gun.  They  only  make  at  this  time,  occa- 
sionally, a  feeble  chirp,  and  take  scarcely  any  alarm,  howe\er 
near  they  are  observed.  Audubon  met  with  this  species  breed- 
ing in  Labrador,  but  did  not  discover  the  nest;  its  song,  he 
remarks,  is  fully  as  sonorous  as  that  of  the  Canary,  —  as  i)o\v- 
erful  and  clear,  and  even  more  varied. 

Tliis  species  probably  l)reeds  from  about  latitude  45°  to  the 
lower  fur  countries,  and  on  tlie  higher  mountains  to  the  southward. 
Few  nests  have  been  discovered.  Rev.  Frank  Ritchie  found  one 
near  Lennoxville.  Ouebec,  and  Harry  Austen  lias  taken  another 
near  Halifax,  in  whieli  he  found  11  eggs. 

Tlic  full  song  is  mucli  more  elaborate  and  more  beautiful  than 
t'lC  bird  has  usually  been  credited  with,  for  it  has  been  descri'icd 
by  writers  who  liave  heard  only  tlie  thin,  weak  notes  more  geiur- 
ally  uttered.  Those  who  have  compared  it  to  the  Skylark  and  the 
Canary  have  not  grossly  exaggerated. 


NoTK.  —  Cuvif.r's  Kix(n,F,T  {Rciiuhts  cuvicri')  was  placed  on 
the  "Hypothetical  List"'  by  tlie  A.  O.  U.  Committee.  The  siiiule 
l)ird  shot  bv  Audubon  in  Pennsylvania  is  the  only  specimen  that 
has  been  obtained. 


cnnsylvani;i 
c  never  ol'- 
jir  nest  and 
110  fall  they 
clen-Cresle<l 
habits,  niiin- 
ro\  ing  com- 
ply gleanuij^ 
,  indeed,  are 
yr   sympathy 
Kit  of  famine, 
ugh  the  same 
ave  jvist  faUeu 
lis  time,  ocea- 
larm,  however 
species  breed- 
t ;  its  song,  he 
iry,  —  as  pow- 

ude  45°   to  die 

)  the  southwani. 

chie  found  one 

taken  anoUi..r 

[e  beautiful  than 
hcendeseri''C(l 
,t('S  more  gencr- 
;kylark  and  die 


was  placed  en 

>c.     The  single 

specimen  duu 


GOLDEN-CROWN r;n    KINGLET. 

Ri;(;li.l's  sapkapa. 

Char.  Aliovc,  olive,  luightcst  on  the  innip ;  crown  with  patch  of 
orange  red  and  yellow,  bordered  by  black  (female  and  young  lacking  the 
nd) ;  forehead  and  line  over  eyes  and  i)atch  beneath,  dull  white  ;  wings 
and  tail  dusky,  the  feathers  eilgcd  with  dull  bulf;  two  white  bars  on 
wings;  below,  dull  white  with  bulf  tint.     J.ength  4  Indies 

Xc-st.  In  damp  coniferous  woods,  often  wholly  or  i)artiallv  jicndent 
fnmi  small  twigs  near  end  of  branch  (sometimes  saddled  upon  the  branch) 
10  In  50  feet  fr(jm  the  ground;  usually  made  of  green  moss  and  lichens, 
lined  at  bottom  with  shreds  of  soft  bark  and  roots,  and  often  with  feathers 
la>tened  to  inside  of  edge,  and  so  arranged  that  the  lips  droop  over  and 
cdiK.eal  the  eggs  ;  sometimes  the  nest  is  a  spherical  mass  of  moss  and 
lichens,  lined  with  vegetable  down  and  wool  ;  the  entrance  at  the  side. 

/.'v.C'.  6-10 ;  usually  creamy  or  pale  Iniff,  sometimes  white,  unmarked, 
or  dotted  with  jxde  rcddi>li  brown  and  lavender  over  entire  surface, 
uft(.n  merely  a  wreath,  more  or  less  distinct  around  larger  end;  0.55 
X  0.45. 

'I  hese  diminutive  birds  are  found,  according  to  the  season, 
not  only  throughout  North  America,  but  even  in  the  West 
Iiiilirs.  They  appear  to  be  associated  only  in  pairs,  and  are 
si  en  on  their  soiuhern  route,  in  this  ])art  of  ^L^ssachusetts,  a 
few  d;iys  in  October,  and  about  the  middle  of  the  month,  or  a 
litde  earlier  or  later  according  to  the  setting  in  of  the  season, 
as  they  ap]K\ir  to  fly  before  the  desolatin,[f  storms  of  the  north- 
ern reLi;ions,  whither  they  retire  about  May  to  breed.  Some 
K  w  remain  in  Pennsylvania  until  ])eceiid)er  or  January,  pio- 
eecding  prol)ably  but  little  fartlier  south  duriuL,^  the  winter. 
They  are  not  known  to  reside  in  any  part  of  New  England, 
retiring  to  the  same  remote  and  desolate  limits  of  the  farthest 
Nuiih  with  the  preceding  species,  of  which  they  have  most  of 


284 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


the  habits.  They  are  actively  engaged  during  their  transient 
visits  to  the  South  in  gleaning  up  insects  and  their  lurking 
larvae,  for  which  they  perambulate  the  branches  of  trees  of 
various  kinds,  frec^uenting  gardens  and  orchards,  and  skipping 
and  vaulting  from  the  twigs,  sometimes  head  downwards  like 
the  Chickadee,  with  whom  they  often  keei)  company,  making 
only  now  and  then  a  feeble  chirp.  They  apjjcar  at  this  tini.: 
to  search  chiefly  after  spiders  and  dormant  concealed  coleop- 
terous or  shelly  insects ;  they  are  also  said  to  feed  on  small 
berries  and  some  kinds  of  seeds,  which  they  break  open  by 
pecking  with  the  bill  in  the  manner  of  the  Titmouse.  They 
likewise  frequent  the  sheltered  cedar  and  pine  woods,  in  which 
they  probably  take  u\)  their  roost  at  night.  Early  in  iVpril 
they  are  seen  on  their  return  to  the  North  in  Pennsylvania  ;  at 
this  time  they  dart  among  the  blossoms  of  the  maple  and  elm 
in  company  with  the  preceding  species,  and  appear  more  vola- 
tile and  actively  engaged  in  seizing  small  flies  on  the  wing,  and 
collecting  minute,  lurking  caterpillars  from  the  opening  leaver 
On  the  2 1st  of  May,  1S35,  I  observed  this  species  feeding 
its  full-fledged  young  in  a  tall  pine-tree  on  the  banks  of  the 
Columbia  River. 

The  range  of  this  species  is  now  set  down  as  "  Eastern  Xoith 
America  west  to  the  Rockies,  breeding  from  the  northern  border 
of  the  United  States  nortiiwaid,  wintering  in  the  Eastern  States 
and  south  to  (iautemala."  Until  quite  recently  it  was  supposed  to 
be  a  migrant  tlirough  Massachusetts,  wintering'  in  small  nund).  rs. 
but  has  been  discovered  breeding  in  both  Berkshire  and  Worcester 
counties.  Nests  iiave  been  taken  also  on  the  Catskills.  It  is  a 
resident  of  the  settled  portion  of  Canada,  though  not  conunon  \\e>t 
of  the  Georgian  15ay,  and  rarely  breeding  south  of  latitude  45°. 

The  song  is  a  rather  simple  '-twittered  warble,"  shrill  and  high 
pitched. 


lir  transient 

t^eir  lurkin;^ 

of  trees  of 

,nd  skippi"^^ 
vnwards  likt: 
)any,  making 
'  at  this  tinv.: 
ealed  coleoi.- 
fcecl  on  small 
Teak  open  \)y 
mouse.     'Hu'v 
,-ooas,inwlw:h 

Karly  in  Al"'^^ 
ninsylvania;  at 

aiaple  and  ehn 
pear  more  vola- 
,n  the  wing,  ^^^^^^ 

opening  le^ive.. 

species  feeding 
the  banks  of  the 


"  K astern 


North 


northern  border 

he  Eastern  States 

I  was  supposed  to 

In  small  numbers. 

M,-e  and  Worcester 

[calskUls.     It's  a 
not  common^v^e>' 

|,f  latitude  45°- 
shriU  and  h^e,.- 


B  L  U  E  B  I  R  1 ). 

SlALIA    SIAI.IS. 

CilAR.  Male  :  above,  azure  blue,  duller  on  checks  ;  throat,  breast,  and 
sides  reddish  brown  ;  belly  and  under  tail-coverts  white  ;  shafts  of  feathers 
ill  wing  and  tail,  black.  Female  :  duller,  blue  of  back  niixctl  with  grayish 
brown;  breast  with  less  of  rufous  tint.     Lenj;th  about  6.'4.  inches. 

A'l-st.  In  a  hollow  tree,  deserted  Woodpecker's  hole,  or  other  excava- 
tion or  crevice,  or  in  a  bird-box  ;  meagrely  lined  with  grass  or  feathers. 

Ei,%'s.    4-6  ;  usually  pale  blue,  sometimes  almosi  white  ;  0.85  X  0  65. 

'I'hcse  well-known  and  familiar  favorites  inhabit  almost  the 
whole  eastern  side  of  the  continent  of  America,  from  the  4Sth 
par.dlel  to  the  vcy  line  of  the  tropics.  Some  appear  to  mi- 
grate in  winter  to  the  Bermtidas  and  Ilahama  islands,  though 
most  of  those  which  pass  the  summer  in  the  North  only  retire 
to  the  Southern  States  or  the  tableland  of  Mexico,  In  South 
Carolina  and  Georgia  they  were  abundant  in  January  and  Feb- 
ruary, and  even  on  the  12th  and  2.Sth  of  tlie  former  month,  the 
weather  being  mild,  a  few  of  these  wanderers  warbled  out  their 
sim])lc  notes  from  the  naked  limbs  of  the  long-leaved  pines. 
Sometimes  they  even  pass  the  winter  in  I'ennsylvania,  or  at 
Ica^t  make  their  appearance  with  almost  every  relenting  of  the 
sevrnty  of  the  winter  or  warm  gleam  of  thawing  sunshine. 
From  this, circumstance  of  their  roving  about  in  (|uest  of  their 
scanty  food,  like  the  hard-pressed  and  hungry  Robin  Redbreast, 
who  by  degrees  gains  such  courage  from  necessity  as  to  enter 
the  cottage  for  his  allowed  crumbs,  it  has,  without  foundation, 


286 


SINGING   lilKDS. 


been  supjiosed  that  our  Ijlucbinl,  in  the  intervals  of  liis  absence, 
passes  the  tedious  and  stormy  time  in  a  stale  of  dormancy ; 
but  it  is  more  probable  that  he  Hies  to  some  sheltered  glade, 
some  warm  and  more  hospitable  situation,  to  glean  his  frugal 
fare  from  the  berries  of  the  cedar  or  the  wiiUry  fruits  which 
still  remain  imgathered  in  the  swamps.  Defended  from  the 
severity  of  the  cold,  he  now  also,  in  all  prt)l)ability,  roosts  in 
the  hollows  of  decayed  trees,  —  a  situation  whicli  he  general!} 
chooses  for  the  site  '>'"  his  nest.  In  the  South,  at  this  clu-er- 
less  season,  IHuebirtls  are  seen  to  feed  on  the  glutinous  berries 
of  the  mistletoe,  the  green-brier,  and  the  siunach.  Content  with 
their  various  fare,  and  little  affected  by  tlie  extremes  of  heat 
and  cold,  they  breed  antl  spend  the  summer  from  Labrador  tu 
Natches,  if  not  to  INIexico,  where  great  ele\ation  jjrodiices  the 
most  temi)erate  and  mild  of  climates.  They  are  also  abundant, 
at  this  season,  to  the  west  of  the  i\lisslssipi)i,  in  the  territories 
of  the  Missouri  and  .\rkansas. 

In  the  Middle  and  NorUiern  States  the  return  of  the  Blue- 
bird   to    his  old  haunts  round  the  barn  and  the    orchard  is 
hailed  as  the  first  agreeable  presage  of  returning  spring,  and  he 
is  no  less  a  messenger  of  grateful  tidings  to  the  farmer,  thin 
an  agreeable,  familiar,  and  useful  companion  to  all.     'J'houL;h 
sometimes  he  makes  a  still  earlier  flitting  visit,  from  the  3d  to 
the  middle  of  March  he  comes  hither  as  a  i)ermanent  resident, 
and  is  now  accompanied  by  his  mate,  who  immediately  visits  thu 
box  in  the  garden,  or  the  hollow  in  the  decayed  orchard  tree, 
which  has  served  as  the  cradle  of  preceding  generations  of  hi- 
kindred.     Affection  and  jealousy,  as  in  the  contending  ami  n 
lated  Thrushes,  have  considerable  influence  o\er  the  Jiluebini. 
He  seeks  perpetually  the  company  of  his  male,  caresses  and 
soothes  her  with  his  amorous  song,  to  which  she  faintly  replies: 
and,  like  the  faithful  Rook,  seeks  occasion  to  show  his  galliii- 
try  by  feeding  her  with  some  favorite   insect.     If  a  rival  m  iki 
his  appearance,   the   attack   is   instantaneous,  the   intruder  i- 
driven  with  angry  chattering  from  the  ]»recincts  he  has  chosen. 
and  he  now  returns  to  warble  out  his  notes  of  triumph  1)\  tin 
side  of  his  cherished  consort.     The  business  of  preparing  an : 


■  his  absence, 
f  dormancy  ; 
Itcrcd  glade, 
aw  his  frugal 
y  fruils  which 
kd  front  the 
ility,  roDsls  in 
h  he  generall} 
at  this  cheev- 
utinous  berrier, 

Content  with 
tremes  of  he^^t 
in  Labrador  to 
1  produces  the 

■  also  abiHidaut, 
I  the  territories 

rn  of  the  I'.lue- 
the    orchard  i;> 
ig  s\n-ing,  and  he 
the  farmer,  th  in 
to  all.     'I'hough 
from  the  3d  to 
manent  resident, 
Idiately  visits  the 
l-il  orchard  tree, 
l-nerations  of  'm- 
litending  antl  k- 
[or  the  r.luebini. 
lie,  caresses  ;ini! 
L  faintly  rei>li^'>' 
|sho\v  his  gall:uv 
Tf  a  rival  m  il<^ 
the    intrucU  i  i~ 

Is  he  has  cho>cu 
triumpl^  by  ib' 

If  i)reparing  i^"' 


l)I,Li;i;iRi).  287 

(leaning  out  the  old  1, est  or  l)()x   now  commences;   and   even 
in  ()ct(jber,  before  they  1)1,1  farewell  to  iheir  favorite  mansion, 
on  line  days,  inlluenced  by  the  anticipation  of  the  season,  they 
are  often  observed  to  go  in  and  out  of  the  box,  as  if  e.xaininiiig 
and  planning  out  their  future  domicile.      Little  pains,  however"^ 
i\w  requisite  for  the  protec:tion  of  the  hardy  young,  and  a  sub- 
st:inlial  lining  of  hay,  and   now  and  then  a  few  feathers,  is  all 
that   is  prepared  for  the  br(.>od  beyon.l  the  natural  shelter  u\ 
the  chosen  situation.     As  the  Martin  and   Ijuu^e  Wren  seek 
out   the  favor  and  convenience  of  the  box,  contests  are  not 
uiifreciuent  with  the  i)arties  for  exclusive  possession  ;  and   the 
latter,  in  various  clandestine  ways,  exhibits  his  envy  and  hos- 
tiiitv  to  the  favored  IMuebird.     As  our  birds  are  very  prolific, 
and  constantly  ]Kiired,  they  often  raise  2  and  sometimes  i)rob- 
al)ly  3  l)roods   in   the   season;   the   male   taking  the   youngest 
unler  his  affectionate  charge,  while  the   female   is  engaged  in 
the  act  of  nicubation. 

Iheir  principal  food  consists  of  insects,  panic  ularly  beetles 
ami   other  shelly  kinds;  they  are  also   fond   of  spiders   and 
gia,-^lioi)pers,    for  which   they   often,    in   company   with    their 
ymin,-,  in  autumn,  descend  to  the  earth,  in  open  jiasture  fields 
or  waste  grounds.      Like  our  'ihru^hes,  they,  earlv   in   spring, 
also  collect  the  common  wire-worm,  or  //////.-,  f.r  food,  as  wJll 
as  other   kinds   of  insects,  which   they  commonlv   watch   for. 
while  perched  on  the  fences  or  low  houghs  of  trees,  and  dart 
ailer  them   to   the   ground  as  soon   as   ]ierci'ive.l.     'I'hey  are 
not.  however,   flycatchers,  like  the  Sv/r/n'Ary  and   .]Us.-/ra/>„s, 
iHit  are  rather  industrious  searchers  for  subM.lence,   like  tlij 
Thrudies,  whose   habits  they  wholly   resemble   in   their   mode 
"I  iVe.ling.     In  the  autumn  they  regale  themsehes  on  various 
kiniL  of  berries,  as  those  of  the  sour-gum.  wild-cherry,  and 
"thers;  and  later  in   the  season,   a^  winter  ai)proaches,   they 
fiv(]iicnt   the   red   cedars   and    several   spe<ies   of  sumach   f(u- 
then-  berries,  eat  persimmon^  in  the  .Middle  States.  ;ind  many 
other  kinds  of  fruits,  and  even  ,,v,A-,  —  the  la>t  never  enter- 
ing into  the  diet  of  the  proi)er  I'lycatchers.     'J'hey  ha\-e  also, 
C((.;i>ionally,  in  a  state  of  (onfinement,  been  reared  and  fed 


288 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


on  soaked  bread  and  vegetable  diet,  on  which  they  thrive  as 
well  as  does  the  Robin. 

The  song  of  the  lUuebird,  which  continues  almost  nninttr- 
ruptedly  from  March  to  (October,  is  a  sof^  rather  feeble,  but 
delicate  and  pleasing  warble,  often  repeated  at  various  times 
of  the  day,  but  most  fre<iuently  in  early  spring  when  the  sky 
is    serene  and  the   temi)erature   mild  and  cheering.     At  this 
season,  before  the  earnest  Robin  ])ours  out  his  more  energetic, 
lay  from  the  orchard  tree  or  fence-rail,  the  simple  song  of  tliis 
almost  domestic   favorite   is  heard    nearly  alone  j    and    if  at 
length  he  be  rivalled,  at  the   dawn  of  day,  by  superior  and 
bolder  songsters,  he  still  relieves  the  silence  of  later  hours  by 
his  unwearied  and  affectionate  attempts  to  please  and  accom- 
pany his  devotetl  mate.     All  his  energy  is  poured  out  into  tliis 
simple  ditty,  and  with  an  ecstatic  feeling  of  delight  he  often 
raises  and  (juivcrs  his  wings  like  the  Mocking  Orpheus,  ami 
amidst  his  striving  rivals  in  song,  exerts  his  utmost  powers  to 
introduce  variety  into  his  unborrowed  and  simple  strain.     ( )n 
hearkening  some  time  to  his  notes,  an  evident  similarity  to  the 
song  of  the  Thrush  is  obseiTable  ;  but  the  accents  are  more 
weak,  faltering,  and  inclining  to  the  ])laintive.     As  in  many 
other  instances,   it  is  nearly  im])ossil)le  to  give  any  approxi- 
mating idea  of  the  expression  of  warbled  soimds  by  words  ;  yet 
their  resemblance  to  some  quaint  expressions,  in  part,  mav  nut 
be  useless,  as  an  attempt  to  recall  to  memory  these  plea>ina 
associations  with  native  harmony :    so  the   Illuebird   often  at 
the  commencement  of  his  song  seems  tenderly  to  call  in  a 
whistled  tone  'hear —  Jicar  buty,  buty  ?  or  merely //<v?;' — but}, 
and  instantly  follows  this  interrogatory  call  with  a  soft  and  w.iiii- 
ling  trill.     So  much  is  this  sound  like  that  which  these  bird- 
frequently  utter  that  on  whistling  the  syllables  in  their  ar*  ent, 
even  in  the  cool  days  of  autumn,  when  they  are  nearly  sileii!. 
they  often  resume  the  answer  in  sympathy.     During  the  perio; 
of  incubation,  the  male  becomes  much  more  silent,  and  utter- 
his    notes    principally    in    the    morning.      More    impoiiuit'v 
engaged,  in  now  occasionally  feeding  his  mate  as  well  as  liim- 
self,  and  perhaps  desirous  of  securing  the  interesting  oc  up:! 


y 


h  they  thrive  as 

i  ahnost  nninter- 
ather  feeble,  but 

at  various  limes 
ig  when  the  sky 
leering.  At  this 
s  more  energetic 
nple  song  of  this 
lone ;    and    if  at 

by  superior  and 
of  later  hours  by 
ease  and  acconi- 
ired  out  into  this 

delight  he  often 
ng  Orpheus,  and 
utmost  powers  to 
mple  strain.  ( )n 
t  similarity  to  the 
accents  are  more 
ve.  As  in  many 
five  any  appmxi- 
ids  by  words  ;  yet 
,  in  part,  may  not 
^ry  these  plea>ing 
Bluebird  often  at 
lerly  to  call  m  a 
erely //<■<?;- — ////i. 
h  a  soft  and  wjdi- 
which  these  binh 
!S  in  their  arcent. 
)'  are  nearly  silent, 
During  the  perio': 

silent,  and  utter- 
More  imporlantlv 
,e  as  well  as  liim- 
iteresting  ocupa- 


i''MT:njKj). 


tid 


'1  of  his  devoted 


char-'-c 


by 


f''>nsort,  h 


''  ^''Haioiis  and  si[ 


^  iivoids  b^.tr, 


^S9 


lying  tl 


(■(ill 


'^^:'-''^'^^  and  |:.,iZ:::!;'''^^-^^'n  their /^ 


'^   tile   resort   of 


rted   by 


e\ 


"■"unnn  for  the  farm 


'^'0-  lover  of  n,n,l 


'']'  ^^'''^'n  undi.sturl 


\\e 


the  .M 


ler  t( 


scent 


■ry 


)erj 
ind 


fate.     ( 
"•''   •society 

It    is 


is 


irtin. 


le  (les 


I'llness  of  hi 


triictiun  he  mak 


'»  return  for  tl 


«'"'-"  "H.  nM;;;:„;'v;"' ""■ 


le 


f  with 


hili 


'ittle  alarm  fc 


•^^»ff-     Conful 


^'«  I'I'on  injurioi, 


I^'^-'isiuv  of  h 


I'enioti 


jr 


■-'"t  in  (h 


•s  msec 


a  hox- 


'^  '"onipaiii 


ind  tJir  rh 


Of 


■'•hard 


"-•""--..«/::„';:■'!""■■;'• 


V'^^^y  witii  h\ 

i'UMider,  and 


'  «pecting  no 


'lenient 


s  anxious 


mate  lie  b, 


viMtor  but 


uh 


)n  un 


e'er- 
houv; 


We   ni   the 


;i(ii()ii.s  t 


o  ca 


lid 


>"'K  round  his  h 


-'"3  injury  to 
'"^^■ards  autu 


uun  all  dan 


ead 


••-•u-ad.-,  t/i 
"Id  han(b 


(■•  a  I) 


^■"bv,  in  ,„„i. 
reproach  of  the 


"^■"■'y  eeases. 


'^'•'^■-'  to  his  helpless  | 
'""'  '"  the  month  of 


'f  "pon  hini.vlfratl 


•■^PP^-ars  by  hi. 


irood 


KT  th, 


"1  suffer 


of  /,// 
tile  [\x 


inirll 


'"y-'Oi/,  while  h 


y  '^  'i.,u-  chan-cd 


Oetol 


)er, 


into 


'^'  passes  with  h,,s  d 


and 


'.^^^■"'•e  of  sprin 


lis  son-  dr.t  i 


his  cheerfid 

'■'  /^''l!.^'e  plaint 
''"'iipanion 


ittin< 


song 
i\"e  note 


I'lit  loo  trulv  th 


^'  •'^o  nou-  his  melanch 


"•"M-ht  th 


e  \\f 


ulu 


n  th 


e'  Jea\ 


^'  Client  and 


'es 


''^^■^'  fallen,  and 


"if'urnful  d 


eca 


'"'y  plaint   I 


s  o\cr 
Iconie 


th 


•^■'"  ''-om  the  blast,   tl 


the  f, 


y  of  \ 


"'es.ifr^.. 


aliu-( 


"rest  no  Ion- 


I 


ven 


'"'  native  i^iAA  ■         i 

"'-  "L'd.s.  and  onh- 


;^'  ''"■""'''   fiiuebird 


u-iuii   ,it 

iiiori) 

>iiidl 


111' 


■'  considerable  el 


take  their  d 


s  s 


till 


^•r  adiuxl, 
'i'lger   o\ 


till  th 


.\''t.  aftc 
"f  ni(i(!e 
'ile  ,ii, 
.ire  th 


•■•'^I'lg  froops  to 


opvnins;  of  the  d 


^'^•"""1,  in    the  earl 


^'Paiture  in  Xoven,) 


s  a 


er 


)er. 


some  mil 


i\-,  th 


'"  ''^■fo'l,  in  the  .Vui 


der  re 


iro 


rate  weather  we  h 
as  if  deploring  th 
they 


^''t-  visits  that 


'.^'i  all  th 


ear  th 
t'  rava 
mav 


lie  St 


■'y  tu-ilight  of  the 
.  ^^^^-''iS  their  u-ay  u^ 
:""^  '"  f'^^'  '^""th.      |j„t 


eir 


'tes,  with 


sad  note  in  the  fiel 


e\-er\-  ret 


ges  of  winte 


Is  or 


irn 


e  bluebird 


eir  wanderings  tid  th 


•'^^"<'   to   follcnv  fa 


i»d  so  frequent 


'■"'"^■^•red  that  tl 


*-"\'L^r  tried  the  cl 


^'  P^'rmanent  return  of 


^'|lL■s 


"'^'■t!i  of  latitiid 


<-'  weather  tl 


I  mat 


'r  weather 


spring. 


acre  was 


e  -)l"  I 


a  lira. 


'"'"I"  die  fa 


45°.     .-\  fe, 


"Of  suitaMe.  f 


and 


■M-.;:;;  c™t*  - "-  -p^^  s 


pairs  are    s 


die   Afi 


onlv 


P  Cox  has  see 
■amichi.     Co 


n  several  at  N 


J"/in.  ill   Xc^v  j: 


""■•  it  evidently 

-■'y 

y  season 


or  now  it  rar 


ecu   e\-ei 


"(-'cairrence 


nieau  found 


ewcastle.  near  tl 


riiiiswick 


le  mouth  of 


.v.ai,  lounc   a  nair  hi-o,,  i-  "lourii  of 

;;i'°r'o<.a.ce,„,,r;;:;;;;^';:;;;;,X^"'" -.i. 


WUlvVri'AK. 
Saxrola  (Knanthi:. 

Char.  Above,  Ijluish  gray;  forehead  and  stripe  over  eyes  wliiic; 
patcli  on  cheek  and  wings  lilack;  rump  white  ;  initldlc  tail-feathers  Muk, 
rest  wliite,  l)roadly  tipjied  with  black;  under  parts  white.  In  the  iViiiak' 
the  upper  parts  are  brown,  and  under  ])arts  buff.     Length  6)2  inche,-. 

AVs/.  In  a  crevice  of  a  stone  wall  or  a  stone  heap;  made  of  plain 
stems  and  grass,  lined  with  feathers,  hair,  or  rabbit's  fur. 

/'A's'-f-  5-7  ;  P^It-'  blue,  sometimes  spotted  with  pale  tawny,  or  iiuipk; 
0.S5  X  0.65. 

Tlie  first  mention  of  the  occurrence  of  thi.s  species  in  castcrii 
America  api)carccl  in  Ilolhoil's  account  of  the  birds  of  Crecnland. 
issued  in  1846;  it  had  licen  reported  jjreviously  from  tiie  I'aiifn 
coast  by  Vi,ti;ors.  In  1854  tlie  name  appeared  in  Cassin's  work, 
and  in  Baird's  "Report"  of  1859  it  was  recorded  as  "accidriii.i! 
in  tlie  northern  part  of  North  America." 

It  should  not  be  termed  accidental  at  the  present  day.  f'^''  i' 
occurs  rejiularly  in  Greenland  and  Labrador  and  at  Ciodboul,  on 
the  St.  Lawrence,  and  has  been  taken  in  winter  in  Nova  .S.  oti.i. 
Maine,  New  York,  Lone;  Island,  Louisiana,  and  Bermuda. 

American  writers  formerly  i;ave  the  vernacular  name  as  ".Stoiu- 
chat,"  or  "Stone  Chat."  —  Coues  alone  addin<;  Wheatear  (.is  .■ 
synonym). 


WHKAIKAK. 


291 


r^ 


,vcr  oyes  wliiic; 

In  the  iViiuik' 
\,  G^-j  inchc.-. 
ni;ule  of  I'l-"'' 


Tlif  Stonorliat  is  ;i  (lilTLrL-nt  bird,  llionnh  Maj^ilK^'vay  callid 
llir  pivsi'iil  spi'cit'S  tliu  "  Whitc-ninipccl  Stoiicrluit."  'riiioiij;li()ut 
I, mope  tlu-  bird  is  coniinoiily  known  as  tlit'  "  Wliiti' rump,"  and 

vlicatcar "  a  corruption  ol  ivliit< 


S.iundcrs  considers  tiic  name 


.11111 


U')S. 


the    An;;l()-Sa.\on    ccpiivalent    of    the 


m 


od 


em    word 


lump 


iro| 


)e  and  Asia  iIk'  species  is  ai)un(ianl.  hreedini'  fro 


m  ( cn- 


iial  I'airope  far  to  tlie  nortinvard,  and  minratiuL;  in  winter  to  north 
(in  Africa.     A  fi'W  winter  in  the  Uritisli  Islands,  thouj^li  tliese  may 
lu;  of  till'  Oreenhmd  race,  wliich  some  autliors  tliink  is  a  distinct 
tnrin,  —  larger  tiian  those  tliat  breed  in   Europe,       as  the  (ireen- 


aiK 


1  I)irds  are  known   to  migrate  across  Great   IJritaii 


Ri 


(luwa 


y 


stall  s  thai  tile  exam])lLS  takiii  on  our  western  coast  are  smaller  and 
iiKirr  like  tiiose  found  in  central  I'lurojie. 

I'ornurly    lari^e   numbers  were  trajiped   in   the   autumn   on   the 


Sniiihdowns    in    luiLiland,  and    mar 


■ted 


hemy    considered 


ittk 


interior   in  delicacy  to  the   famous   (Ortolans. 

The  favorite  resorts  of  tlie  Wheatear  at  ail  seasons  arc  the  lonely 
iiKinrs  or  oijcn  meadows  by  the  sea-shore.  It  is  an  active  bird  and 
always  alert,  keepin,!.;;  up  a  per])etual  flittinL,^  It  is  very  lerrrestrial, 
tluni^h  the  (Ireenland  race  is  said  to  perch  on  trees  more  fre- 
Hlkil 


lly  than  the  l'-uro|)ean  bird. 


The  .son}f  is  sweet  and  sprit^litly,  and  the  male  often  sinji;s  while 
liovi'rinjj;  over  his  mate. 

Mr.  Ilagerup  writes  to  me  that  the  birds  in  (liv.cnland  sin<,'  at 
times  very  similarly  to  the  Snow  Huntinj^s,  —  a  sont^  that  he  never 
1   from   the  Wheateais  of   Denmark,  —  and  this  son<;  is  reii- 


lKMr( 


(K  led  by  both  females  and  males. 


lawny,  or  inn  pit. 

Uies  in  castciii 

of  Crcenluiil. 
Uii  the  r.>'i"' 
Cassin's  work. 
as  "  accitU  ii^'>' 


sent  day.  t"^''  '' 
[at  Godbovil,  on 
In  Nova  Scoti.i. 
Irmuda. 

lame  as  "  Su)ik- 
Ivheatear  ( -^^  ^ 


ami:ri('an  PiiTr. 

TITLARK. 

AnTHUS    I'KNNSVI.VAMCrS. 

C'llAK.  Above,  olive  blown,  edges  of  the  featlicrs  jialer;  line  dwi 
and  around  the  eye  pale  buff  ;  wings  dusky,  edges  of  t'eathcr.s  pale  bmu  n  ; 
tail  duskv,  middle  feathers  olive  brown,  large  patehes  of  white  on  ouin 
featliers;  below,  dull  buff,  breast  and  sides  spotted  with  brown.  Length 
614  inches. 

,\V.>.'  Oil  the  ground,  usually  sheltered  by  stone  or  inouiid  ;  a  bulk\ 
affair  of  grass,  steins,  moss,  and  lichens,  —  sometimes  only  grass  is  u>ui, 
—  often  loosely  made,  occasionally  compact. 

/'^-.X-^-  4-6;  variable  in  color,  usuallv  tliill  white  covered  thickly  wuli 
reddish  brown  and  iiurplish  brown ;  sometimes  the  markings  so  ikmiIv 
conceal  the  ground  color  as  to  give  appearance  of  a  brown  egg  with 
gray  streaks ;  o  So  X  0.60. 

This  is  a  winter  bird  of  passage  in  most  parts  of  the  Unikil 
States,  arriving  in  loose,  scattered  flocks  from  the  North,  in 
the  Middle  and  Eastern  States,  abont  the  second  week  in 
October.  In  the  month  of  Ai)ril  we  saw  mimerotis  fltn  ks 
flitting  over  the  prairies  of  Missouri,  on  their  way,  no  doubt. 
to  their  breeding  quarters  in  the  interior.  Audubon  f()!;n(l 
these  birds  also  in  the  summer  on  the  dreary  coast  of  Labra- 
dor. During  the  breeding  season  the  male  often  rises  on  wiiii^ 
to  the  height  of  eight  or  ten  yards,  uttering  a  few  clear  .iiid 


amI':rican  rii'iT 


293 


pakT;   line  cvci 

lu-isiuile  bviiwn; 

white  on  cuki 

brown,     l.t-iiii'li 

imouiul;  ;i  l'u;k\ 
ly  grass  is  n-ul, 

red  thickly  wth 
Ikings  so   ni-.r.lv 
brown  egg  NMil' 


)f  the  UniK'l 
Ithc  North,  in 
tond  week  m 
inerous    llo' ks 
[ay,  no  doubt, 
luhibon  foiuiil 
oast  of  l.ahi.i- 
rises  on  \v  hl; 
Ifew  clear   nul 


mellow  notes,  nnd  then  suddenly  settles  down  nenr  the  nest  or 
f)n  some  |)roje(tin,>f  rock.  They  leave  Labrador  and  Neu- 
iiiiindland  as  soon  as  the  younj;  are  ahle  to  lly,  or  about  the 
middle  of  August.  Aecording  to  tlu-ir  well-known  habits,  they 
tifiiurnt  open  llats,  commons,  and  piou.L^lird  fields,  like  a 
l,:irk,  running-  rapidly  along  the  ground,  taking  by  surprise  their 
iiisi'(  t  ]irey  of  llies,  midges,  and  other  kinds,  and  when  rest- 
iiiL;  for  an  instant,  keeping  the  tail  xihrating  in  the  manner  of 
the  IOuroi)ean  Wagtail,  'i'hey  also  fricpient  the  river  shores, 
p.iiticularly  where  gravelly,  in  (|uest  of  mmute  shell-fish,  as 
well  as  a(]uatie  insects  and  their  lar\;e.  At  tliis  time  they 
iiiur  only  a  feeble  note  or  call,  like  Awi'/  /aV;/,  with  the  final 
tiiiK'  often  plaintively  ])rolonged;  and  when  in  Hocks,  wheel 
about  and  lly  ])retly  high,  and  to  a  considerable  distance  before 
ihcy  alight.  Sometimes  families  of  these  birds  continue  all 
winter  in  the  Middle  States,  if  the  season  i)rove  moderate.  In 
the  Southern  States,  particularly  North  and  South  ("arolina, 
thev  appear  in  great  llocks  in  the  dejjth  of  winter.  ( )n  the 
shores  of  the  Santee,  in  January,  I  observed  them  gleaning 
their  food  familiarly  amidst  the  Vultures,  drawn  by  the  rubbish 
of  the  city  conveyed  to  this  quarter.  They  likewise  fre(iuent 
the  cornfields  and  rice-grounds  for  the  same  jnirpose.  They 
emigrate  to  the  Bermudas,  Cuba,  and  Jamaica,  and  penetrate 
in  the  course  of  the  winter  even  to  Mexico,  (iuiana,  and 
llrazil.  They  also  inhabit  the  plains  of  the  Oregon.  They 
are  again  seen  on  their  return  to  the  North,  in  Pennsylvania, 
abuut  tile  beginning  of  May  or  close  of  April. 

Xests  of  the  Titlark  have  been  found  on  the  mountains  of 
Colorado. 

XoTic.  —  Two  European  congeners  of  the  Titlark,  the  White 
\Va(,tail  {Jfo/aci7/a  ^7//'//)  and  the  .Mi:.\i)ow  I'li-rr  {Antluts  pra- 
ir/isis)  have  been  captured  in  r.reenland,  but  should  be  considered 
merely  as  "  accidentals  "  in  that  region. 


v:; 


.H- 


l^j'-L   <  /     •■■■  "'■^^"• 


HORNED    LARK. 

SH(JKK    I.AKK. 

O'KHOkIS    A  I. ITS  IRIS. 

Char.  Above,  dull  grayish  brown  streaked  -.villi  darker;  nape,  shtuil. 
ders,  and  riimi)  iiink-vinaceous  ( iiiiuuiiDn  ;  black  bar  across  forehead  aiul 
aloni,'  sides  of  Iiead,  lerininating  in  erectile  Iiorn-like  tnfts;  throat  ami 
line  over  the  eyes,  yellow  ;  black  bar  from  nostril  curving  below  the  e\v>; 
VkIow,  didl  white,  shaded  on  the  sides  wilii  same  color  as  back;  brt,i-t 
tinged  with  yellow  and  bearing  large  bhu  k  jiatch ;  middle  tail-featlms 
like  back,  the  rest  black,  with  white  patches  on  outer  pair.  Length  ab  i:ii 
7^  inches. 

Xisf  On  the  ground,  amid  a  bed  of  moss;  composed  of  grass,  lined 
with  feathers. 

/?^;;''j'.  4-5,  dull  white  with  buff  or  iiurjilc  tint  spotted  with  puii'li?!) 
brown  or  olive  brown  and  lilac;  0.93  X  0.70. 

This  beautiful  species  is  common  to  the  north  of  both  th^'  old 
and  new  continent ;  but,  as  in  some  other  instances  alrcadx  n- 
marked,  the  Shore  T^ark  extends  its  mi!j;rations  nvirb  fnrtb  :\ir 
America  than  over  luirope  and  Asia.     '  )ur  '  .is        n  in  i 

with  in  the  Arctic  regions  by  the  n''  c\>,      A  Mr. 

llullock  saw  it  in  the  winter  around  iiym        xicr   mi  that 

in  their  migrations  over  this  continent  ncse  bii  is  spread  tlicni- 
seh-es  across  the  whole  habitable  nortlurn  I  niisphere  to  the 
very  equator;  while  in  Eur()i)e,  according  to  the  careful  obscr- 


lloKNIM)    lARK. 


295 


spsi: 


*     /      ifi* 


f.<i. 


\ 


vkcr;  nape,  sboul. 

..„^s  forchc.ul  .Hid 
tnfts;  throat  an.l 

11;  below  the  i^'-; 

|,r  as  back  ;  bi .  i-i 
icUllc  tail-feat! i.is 
ir.     Length  al>  ''H 

sed  of  grass,  lined 

Ittcd  with  purplish 

of  both  the  oia 
liiccs  alrcndv  n- 

.1  Mr. 

.0  that 

.-,  spread  ll''^'»i- 

ni sphere  ti'  ^^i^' 

ic  careful  ob^^'t- 


\i(< 


vntions  of  Tcmminck,  tlu-v  an'  unknown  to  tlu-  south  of  ( ier- 
manv.  I'allas  met  will)  tiusc  birds  round  Lake  llaikal  and  on 
the  Xolga,  in  the  5;,d  degree  of  laliliidc.  Wf^iward  they  have 
also  been  seen  in  tlie  interior  of  the  United  Stales,  along  tiie 
■>h(iris  of  the  Missouri. 

i  hey  arrive  in  the  Norlliern  ami  Miihllo  States  late  in  the 
I. II  or  eommencenunt  of  winter.  In  \rw  llngland  they  are 
Mill  c.irly  in  October,  and  disapijcar  gvinTally  on  the  approach 
III  the  deep  storms  of  snow,  though  straggling  parties  are  still 
loiind  nearly  thronghoiii  the  winter.  In  the  other  States  to 
tile  South  they  are  more  connnon  at  this  season,  and  are  par- 
iii  ularly  nimierons  in  South  Carolina  and  Ceorgia,  fretincnting 
ii|un  plains,  old  fields,  common  grounds,  and  the  dry  shores 
ami  banks  of  bays  and  rivers,  keeping  constantly  on  the 
giotmd,  and  roving  about  in  families  under  the  guidance  of  the 
oMer  birds,  who,  watching  for  any  ap])roa(  hing  danger,  give 
thr  alarm  to  the  young  in  a  plaintive  (all  very  similar  to  that 
uhi(  h  is  uttered  by  the  Skylark  in  the  same  circtnnstanc  is. 
Iiixparable  in  all  their  movements,  like  the  hen  and  her  fos- 
ten<l  chickens,  they  roost  together  in  a  close  ring  or  com- 
paiiy,  by  the  mere  edge  of  some  sheltering  weed  or  tuft  of 
grass  on  the  dry  and  gravelly  ground,  and  thiekly  and  w.irmly 
clnl,  they  abide  the  frost  and  the  storm  with  hardy  indiffe- 
rence. 'I'hey  fly  rather  high  and  loose,  in  s(  attered  companies, 
ami  follow  no  regular  time  of  migration,  but  uKjve  onward  only 
as  their  present  resources  begin  to  fail.  They  are  usually  fat, 
tMeemed  as  food,  and  are  frecjuently  seen  exposed  for  sale  in 
our  markets.  Their  diet,  as  usual,  consists  of  various  kinds  (jf 
Seeds  which  still  remain  on  the  grass  and  weeds  they  fre(iuent, 
ami  they  swallow  a  consideral)le  jiortion  of  gravel  to  assist 
tluir  digestion.  'I'hey  also  collect  the  eggs  and  dormant 
larva>  of  insects  when  theyfiiU  in  their  way.  About  the  middle 
of  March  they  retire  to  the  North,  and  are  seen  about  the 
htginning  of  May  round  Hudson  Uay,  after  which  they  are 
111)  more  observed  till  the  return  of  autumn.  They  arrive  in 
the  fur  countries  along  with  the  l.apland  Huntings,  with  which 
they  associate ;  and  being  more  shy,  act  the  sentinel  usually  to 


296 


SINGING   lilRDS. 


the  whole  coniijany  in  advertising  them  of  the  apjiroach  of 
danger.  'I'hey  soon  after  retire  to  the  marshy  and  woody  (h^- 
tricts  to  breed,  extending  their  summer  range  to  the  Arctic  Sea. 
'I'hey  are  said  to  sing  well,  rising  into  the  air  and  warbling  as 
they  ascend,  in  the  manner  of  the  Skylark  of  Europe.  '•'i"hc 
male,"  says  Audubon,  like  the  ( 'onmion  Lark,  "soars  into  the 
air,  sings  with  cheerfulness  over  the  rescjrt  of  his  mate,  aiil 
roosts  beside  her  and  his  nest  on  the  grt)und.  having  at  llis 
season  a  very  remarkable  a])pearance  in  the  development  of 
the   black   and   horndike   egrets." 

Ha])])v  Xuttall.  to  liavc  died  before  "variety  making  '  came  into 
fasliioni  ]'t/u  had  but  one  form  of  Horned  Lark  to  deal  with. 
while  I  am  confronted  with  eic'i\n.  Fortun.itely  a  large  number  ol 
tliese  sub-sjjeeies  have  never  taken  it  into  tluir  iiorned  heads  id 
cross  into  the  territory  under  present  consideration,  so  1  am  savnl 
from  puzzling  mysjif  and  mv  readers  with  their  diagnosis. 

The  true  al pest) is  is  foiuid  during  summer  in  tiie  region  lu- 
tween  the  (lulf  of  St.  Lawrence  and  Greenland  west  to  lIudsDr. 
Bay,  and  in  winter  .south  to  about  latitude  35\  It  is  (piite  comnmu 
along  tile  New  I'aigland  shores  \ihile  migrating  and  in  winter. 

The  PK.\nui;  11okni:o  L.vkk  ('J.  alpesiris praticola^  is  a  snialf  r 
bird  with  very  gray  back  ;  line  over  eyes  white;  c\\\w  pale  yellow. 

Tills  race  is  found  in  summer  along  the  upper  .Mississi])pi  valji  v 
and  (-reat  Lake  region,  eastward  si)arin,i;ly  to  Montreal.  \'enii(i::i. 
and  Long  Island.  It  is  resident  over  the  greater  portion  of  is 
range,  but  some  few  winter  south  to  the  Carolinas  and  Te.xas. 


le  approach  of 
and  wood)'  dis- 
I  the  Arctic  Sea. 
md  warl:)ling  as 
uirope.  '•  The 
'  soars  into  tlic 
his  mate,  aii^l 
having  at  lh!^ 
Icvclopment  of 


k  to  (K;al  witii. 
large-  lumihrr  oi 
lornud  licads  !o 

so  I   am  sa\nl 
gliosis. 

tile  I'cgion  ln- 
kvest  to  IhulMin 
s  quite  comiiKJii 
!  in  winter. 
old)  is  a  small  .r 
\\\  pale  yellow, 
ississij^pi  valkv 
itreal.  \'erm(M;i. 
■  portion  of  ii> 
nd  Texas. 


,.-(iyr.!.i.v>'.ffv"'?'  ; 


"■>J^-^X 


SKVI.ARK. 

Ai..Auj)A  .\K\i:\.sr.s 


i»''""ic™r',?:.'i'°«:'^';''™'V"«'o:..<.i,vi 


3-5;  dull  nrrav, 


111,11 


■'^"!-iti>oHveb,own;o.95yo. 


298 


SINGIXG    BIRDS. 


DICKCrSSKL. 

DLACK-TlIKOATEl)    IJUNTING. 

Sl'lZA   A.MKKICANA. 

riiAR.  Male:  above,  gray  brown,  inidcUc  of  back  streaked  with 
black ,  uii\)c  and  side  of  head  asii ,  crown  oiivc  streaked  with  duskv  ;  line 
over  tiie  eyes  yellow;  chin  white;  large  -jaleh  of  black  on  throat;  two 
wing-bars  chestnut ;  edge  of  wing  yellow;  below,  white  tinged  with  \el 
low;  sides  shaded  with  brown,  l-'eniale  :  similar,  somewhat  smalKr; 
throat  without  patch,  but  with  black  spots  ;  less  tinge  of  yellow  on  hnver 
parts.     Length  6  to  7  inches. 

Ai'.r/.  ( )n  the  i)rairie  or  in  a  field  or  jiasture  or  open  scrubby  wood'.;; 
placed  upon  the  ground  or  in  a  bush  or  low  tree,  sometimes  10  to  :o 
feet  from  ground;  made  of  grass,  weed-stalks,  leaves,  and  roots,  limd 
with  line  grass  or  hair. 

■^A's"'-     4~5  ;  P^l'-'  greenish  blue,  unspotted  ;  o.So  X  0.60. 

These  birds  arrive  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  England  fmm 
th-e  South  about  the  middle  of  May,  and  abound  in  the  vi(  inity 
of  Philadeljihia,  where  they  seem  to  jjrefer  level  fields,  build m^ 
their  nests  on  the  ground,  rhieOy  of  fine  withered  grass.  '1  luv 
also  inhabit  the  prairies  of  Missouri,  the  State  of  New  Wnk. 
the  remote  northern  regions  of  Hudson's  Bay.  and  are  not  un- 
common in  this  jiart  of  New  luigland,  dwelling  here,  ho\ve\er, 
almost  exclusively  in  the  high,  fresh  meadows  near  the  y:\\\- 
niarshes.  Their  song,  simple  and  monotonous,  accordiuLr  to 
Wilson  consists  only  of  five  notes,  or  rather  two,  the  liist 
being  repeated  twice  and  slowly,  the  second  thrice  and  rajiiilly. 
resembling  /s/is/>  isJiip,  tslic  fshc  fs/ic.  With  us  their  call  i:^  7a 
7/V  —  f.</i('  fs/i?  ts/ir  tsh'ip,  and  tship  tship,  tsJic  fsJu'  tshr  t.-ihip. 
I-'rom  their  arrival  nearly  to  their  departure,  or  for  two  or  three 
months,  this  note  is  perpetually  heard  from  every  level  fieM  ot 
grain  or  grass  ;  both  sexes  also  often  mount  to  the  top  of  •^nnu 
low  tree  of  the  orchard  or  meadow,  and  there  continue  to 
chir]i  forth  in  unison  their  simple  ditty  for  an  hour  at  a  tmit'. 
AN'hile  thus  engaged  they  may  be  nearly  approached  wiiii'Hit 
exhibiting  any  appearance  of  alarm  or  suspicion  ;  and  tliciigh 
the  species  appears  to  be  numerous,  they  live  in  harmony,  "^'l 


i^rcKcrssEL. 


k  streaked  with 
with  dusky  ;  line 

;  on  throat ;  two 
tinged  with  yd 

mewhat  smalli  i  ; 
yellow  on  hjwer 

scrubby  wood- ; 
netimcs  lo  to  :o 
and  roots,  limd 

5o. 

England  fnun 
in  the  vicinity 
fields,  builiiiiii; 
d  grass.    They 
of  New  \iirk, 
1(1  are  not  nn- 
lere,  however, 
near  the  salt- 
according  to 
two,   the  liist 
e  and  raiii'liy. 
heir  call  i^  'fit 
's//r  tslic  /,>/.7/. 
r  two  or  thite 
y  level  fieM  of 
le  top  of  ^(iiiu 
2  contintk   tn 
our  at  a  tniu'. 
ached  wiiimtit 
;   and  though 
harmonv.  a'nl 


"-ly   display  any    h„s,i,i„   ,„    ,„^,                                       ^^'^ 
"-•  1-ginni,,,,  ..f  S.,„,„  i"        ,     7  ''-°"-'  ""...,  a,,,,  „ 

il'>--'floo<I  consists  of  sf.,1.  , ■     ■    l'^'"'"!  "f  ti>c- in„i,r. 

-I  »>all  colcopterons  ins..,".       :'^'  '"•■'■''  "I'""  '-^crpi 

" '■■*°>-^-  °f 'he  """".«  cankiCnn"  ""'™''  ""  """>■ 

;;-"f  i's;:, -tt;,:;;; r  -^  K„„a„„,  ,„„ , 

■■■  '■-'■«  ''>.'l-  in  so„U,.n,  On,";."  ""  '-  '"'""-■»  '"""'l  ^>"^^ 


"'  ■"  '  '-'"IS-  '  '"■'-  °'  "s  occuiTOicf  oast  of  ,|,„ 


SNOW  FLAKE. 

SNOW    BUXTIXG.     WHITE   SNOW    BIRD. 
1';,!X."1R()I'HF.XAX    XIVALIS. 

Char.  In  siimmci-,  ])icvr\iliiig  color  wliitc ;  middle  of  back,  wings,  and 
tail  mixed  with  black.  In  antunin  the  dark  color  i.s  extended,  the  l)l:ii.k 
being  broadly  margined  with  lawny  brown,  which  gradually  becomes  white 
as  winter  advances.     Length  about  6^4  inches. 

yW.v"/.  ( )n  a  barren  hillside,  under  shelter  of  a  rock  or  in  a  stone  Ik;!)), 
sometimes  in  cavitv  of  a  sand-bank;  compactly  built  of  dry  grass,  iilant 
stems,  and  moss,  lined  with  feathers  and  hair. 

/f;';'.v.  4-6  ;  dull  white,  with  faint  tint  of  blue  or  green,  spotted,  cliietly 
around  larger  end,  with  reddish  brown  and  lavender :  0.90  X  0.65. 

This  messenger  of  cold  and  stormy  weather  chiefly  in- 
habits the  higher  regions  of  the  Arctic  circle,  whence,  as  the 
severity  of  tl;  winter  threatens,  they  migrate  indifferently  owr 
Euro])e.  eastern  Asia,  and  the  I'nited  States.  On  their  wa\  to 
the  South  they  apjicar  round  Hudson  Hay  in  Septeml)er,  and 
stay  till  the  frosts  of  November  again  oblige  them  to  seek  oiit 
warmer  (juarters.     l^arly  in  1  )ecember  they  make  their  des'  cnt 


SNOWFLAKE. 


301 


into  the  Northern  States  in  whirling    roving  flocks,  either  im- 
iiudiately  before  or  soon   after  an   inunchiting  fall   of  snow. 
Amidst  the  drifts,  and  as  they  accumulate  with  the  blast,  flocks 
of  these  ilhvars  fo^cl.  or  bad-wcathrr  birds,  of  the  Swedes,  like 
the  spirits  of  the  storm  are  to  be  seen  tlilting  about  in  restless 
and   hungry   troojjs,   at   times    resting  on   the   wooden   fences, 
ihoiigh  but  for  an  instant,  as,  like  the  (H)ngenial  Tartar  hordes 
of  their   natal   regions,    they    appear    now   to   have    no   other 
(.ilijci  t  in  view  but  an  escape   from   famine   and  to  carry  on  a 
general  system  of  f(jrage   while    they    ha])])en    to   stay   in   tlie 
vii  inity.     At  times,   pressed   by   hunger,  they  alight   near  the 
door  of  the  cottage  and  approach   the  barn,  or  even  venture 
into    the    out-houses   in   tjuest   of  dormant  insects,   seeds,    or 
cninibs  wherewith  to  allay  their  hunger  ;   they  are  still,  how- 
ever, generally   plump  and  fat,  and   in   some  countries  much 
esteemed  fe)r  the  table.     In  fine  weather  they  apjjcar  less  rest- 
le^>,  somewhat  more   familiar,   and   occasionally  even   at   this 
season  they  chant  out  a  few  unconnected  notes  as  they  survey 
tlie  ha])pier  face  of  Nature.     At  the  per'ftd  of  incubation  they 
are   said   to  sing  agreeably,  but  appear  to  seek  out  the  most 
(jrsolate  regions  of  the  cheerless  North   in  whit  li  to  waste  the 
sweetness  of  their  melody,  unheard  by  any  ear  but  that  of  their 
mites.      In  the  dreary  wastes  of  dreenland.  the  naked  Lapland 
.\lj.>,  and  the  scarcely  habitable  Si)it/.bergen,  bound  with  eter- 
nal ice,  they  pass  the  season  of  re[)roduction  seeking  out  the 
fi^iues  of  rocks  on  the  mountains  in  which  to  flx  their  nests 
aheut  the  month  of  May  or  June.     A  few  are  known  to  breed 
in   the   alpine   declivities  of  the    White    Mountains   of   New 
IhiMipshire.     The   nest    is   here    fixeil   on    thi.'  ground    in  the 
shelter  of  low  bushes,  and  formed  nearly  of  the  same  materials 
as  that  of  the  Common  Song  S])arrow. 

At  times  they  proceed  as  far  south  in  the  United  States  as 
the  State  of  Nfaryland.  They  are  here  generally  known  by  the 
name  of  the  White  Snow  IMrd,  to  distinguish  them  from  the 
more  common  dark-bluish  Spnrrow,  so  called,  'i'hey  vary  in 
their  color  according  to  age  and  season,  and  have  ih/ays  a 
great  predominance  of  white  in  their  [)lumage. 


302 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


The  Snow  Huntings  arc  seen  in  spring  to  assemble  in  Nor- 
way and  its  islands  in  great  numbers  ;  and  alter  a  stay  of  abuui 
three  weeks  ihey  disappear  lor  the  season,  and  migrate  across 
the  Arctic  Ocean  to  tiie  farlhesl  known  land.  On  their  return 
in  winter  to  the  Scottish  Highlands  their  Hocks  are  said  to  \>- 
immense,  mingling,  by  an  aggregating  close  llight,  almost  inij 
the  tbrm  of  a  ball,  so  as  to  present  a  very  fatal  and  successtul 
mark  for  the  fowler.  'I'hey  arrive  lean,  but  soon  become  fit. 
In  Austria  they  are  caught  in  snares  or  tra])s,  and  when  IkI 
with  millet  become  ecjual  to  the  (Jrtolan  in  value  and  llaxur. 
When  caged  they  show  a  very  wakeful  disposition,  instantly 
hopping  about  in  the  night  when  a  light  is  j)roduced.  Imliil- 
gence  in  tiiis  constant  train  of  action  and  perpetual  watchful- 
ness may  periia])s  have  its  intluence  on  this  species,  in  the 
selection  of  tiieir  breeding  j^laces  within  the  Arctic  regions, 
where  tor  months  they  continue  to  enjoy  a  perpetual  day. 

'l"he  food  of  these  birtls  consists  of  various  kinds  of  sicds 
and  the  hnvve  of  insects  and  minute  shell-fish  ;  the  seed^  vi 
aquatic  plants  are  also  sometimes  sought  by  them,  and  I  hiw 
found  in  their  stomachs  those  of  the  A'///'/>/(/,  species  of  /'-/r- 
}^oiiiii/i,  and  gravel.  In  a  state  of  confinement  they  shell  .md 
eat  oats,  millet,  hemp-seed,  and  green  peas,  which  they  sidii, 
They  rarely  perch,  and,  like  Larks,  live  much  on  the  ground. 

This  harbinger  of  winter  breeds  in  the  northernmost  ot  the 
.American  islands  and  on  all  the  shores  of  the  continent  fnmi 
Chesterfield  Inlet  to  Hehring's  Straits.  The  most  southerly  ui 
its  breeding  stations  in  America,  according  to  Richardson,  i 
Southampton  Island,  in  the  62d  parallel,  where  Captain  1  yon! 
found  a  nest,  by  a  strange  fatality,  placed  in  the  bosom  of  tin 
exposed  corpse  of  an  lOscpiimaux  child.  Well  clothed  an; 
hardy  l)y  nature,  the  Snow  Hunting  even  lingers  about  the  fort; 
of  the  fur  countries  and  open  places,  picking  up  grass-sccii- 
until  the  snow  becomes  deep.  It  is  only  during  the  niiMith; 
of  December  and  January  that  it  retires  to  the  soutli\v,ir;| 
of  Saskatchewan,  and  it  is  seen  again  there  on  its  ritii:: 
as  early  as  the  middle  of  February,  two  months  after  whi' 
it  arrives  in  the  65th  parallel,  and  by  the  beginning  of  .M.iy 


SNOWl'LAKE. 


303 


ble  in  Nor- 
way of  aboil  I 
grate  across 
their  retuni 
re  said  to  ^ " 
,  aimost  in'  • 
x\(\  successlul 
a  \)ccoi\ie  fat. 
and  when  ud 
ue   and  Uavuv. 
lion,  instanily 
luced.     indul- 
„.uia\  vvatchlui- 
species,  in  ^i^e 
Arctic  regions. 
)ctna\  day. 
kinds  of  s^-^'^' 
,h  -,  the  seed^  >.t 
hem,  and  1  i^-v. 
I  species  of  ^'''"■ 
L  they  shell  ana 
jwhich  they  >V^>^' 
on  the  ground. 
thernmost  ot  ^1^^ 
.e  continent  Woui 
iiwst  southerly  oi 
to  Richardson,  i> 
:re  Captain  I. v()i>^ 
the  bosom  ottte 
^Vell   clothed   aii. 
.rs  about  the  fort: 
,,  up  grass-scca^. 
luring  the  montn- 
ito  the    soutlAv^u. 
l,.re    on  its  ^^^': 
„nths  after  whi- 
grinning  of  M-^)  • 


has  penetrated  to  the  coast  of  the  Polar  Sea.  At  this  period  it 
kcds  ui)un  llie  buds  of  the  i)urplc  saxifraj^^e  {SuA/j/di^d  ('/-/"(o/- 
//j('//(i)f  one  of  the  most  early  of  the  Arciu;  i)laius. 

As  the  Snow  Jlunling  sometimes  begins  to  visit  the  riiited 
Stales  in  October,  it  appears  jjrelty  certain  that  some  ot' liiese 
liinl;,  breed  almost,  if  not  ipiile,  within  the  norlhern  limits  of 
the  L  nion ;  and  as  staled  elsewhere,  a  nest  has  been  I'wuiid 
luMT  the  rocky  smnmii  of  the  \\  iiite  Mountains  oH  \ij\v 
ll.iiipshire. 

I  1k'  Snow  liunting  is  usually  restricted  in  summer  to  the  higher 
l.iiiuides, . —  from  Labrailor  and  the  (ireat  Slave  Lake  region  to  the 
.\n  tie  Ocean,  —  but  an  occasional  tloek  is  seen  farther  southward, 
and  nests  have  been  taken  in  the  Wldle  Mount. uiis  and  at  .Spiing- 
lirld.  >hiss. 

Mr.  A.  Hagerup,  who  saw  considerable  of  this  bird  whrn  in 
(lit  inland,  w^-ites  to  me  that  the  song  is  a  sweet  and  ])leasing 
iiulndv.  though  rather  disconnected,  "delivered  in  short  stan/as." 
'•  W.irbling,"  he  adds,  "is  perhaps  the  lOnglish  worii  best  suited  to 
dLsiribc  its  character." 


f-*- .--,,. 


LAPLAND    LONOSl'UR. 

CAI.CAKirS    I,.\I'1'()N1CUS. 

Char.  Above,  brownisli  lilack.  the  fcatlicrs  edged  with  dull  luKi, 
wing-feathers  with  dull  b;iy ;  head  and  throat  rich  black  (femali  mw 
young  have  the  crown  same  as  l)ack)  ;  line  from  eyes  and  down  sitiL  ■: 
throat,  white  ;  band  of  bright  ciiestnut  across  hind-neck;  tail  with  panh'- 
of  white  on  outer  feathers  ;  below,  dull  white,  breast  and  sides  ni.iiki- 
with  black;  bill  yellow,  tipped  with  black;  legs  and  feet  black.  I. en,;!: 
about  6'4  inches. 

,\'('.f/.  In  swampy  moorlands,  amid  deep  moss  or  tiift  of  grass,  "i  ,• 
the  l)ase  of  a  mound  ;  composed  of  grass,  plant-stems,  roots,  and  iii'i--. 
lined  with  feathers  or  deer's  hair. 

/',';';vj'.     -{-7  ;  p;de  grayish  brown  or  reddish  brown,  marked  with  ili: 
brown  ;  o.So  X  o.Oo. 

This  species  genemlly  inhal)its  the  desolate  Arctic  regioiiM' 
both  continents.  In  the  United  States  i\  few  stragglers  froiv. 
the  greater  body  show  themselves  in  winter  in  the  remote  nm: 


LAPLAND    LOXOSI'UR. 


305 


■rn 


¥■ 


iiiist'ttlud  jtarts  of  Maine,  Michigan,  and  the  Northwestern 
TerritoricH.  Large  Hocks  also  at  times  enter  the  Union,  and 
contrary  to  tiieir  ustial  practice  of  resting  an<l  living  wholly  on 
the  ground,  occasionally  alight  on  trees.  They  leave  the  colder 
Arctic  deserts  in  the  autumn,  and  are  found  arotmd  Hudson 
i;,i\'  on  their  way  to  the  South  in  winter,  not  making  their 
apjicarance  there  before  November,  Near  Severn  River  they 
liiunt  the  cedar-trees,  upon  whose  berries  they  now  princi- 
]i.i]|y  feed.  They  live  in  large  flocks,  and  are  so  gregarious 
that  when  separated  from  their  own  si)ecies,  or  in  small  par- 
lii-,  they  usually,  in  Europe,  associate  with  the  common  Larks, 
or.  in  America,  they  join  the  roving  bands  of  Snow  Hirds.  In 
the  fur  countries  they  extend  their  migrations  in  the  s|)ring  as 
fir  as  the  65th  parallel,  where  they  were  seen  about  I'ort 
l"ranklin  by  the  beginning  of  May  :  at  this  time  they  fed  much 
u|ion  the  seeds  of  the  Alpine  arbutus.  They  feed  ])rincipally 
oil  ^ccds,  and  also  on  grass,  leaves,  buds,  and  insects.  They 
bt'id  on  small  hillocks,  among  moss  and  stones,  in  open 
mar>hy  fields,  and  the  nest  is  thickly  and  loosely  constructed 
of  moss  and  grass,  and  lined  with  a  few  feathers  and  deer's 
h:iir.  The  Longs])ur,  like  the  Lark,  sings  only  as  it  rises  in 
the  air,  in  which,  suspended  aloft,  it  utters  a  few  agreeable  and 
mrloiliouM  notes. 


ted  with  duU  l.un. 
1  black  (fcmnle  .uu: 
and  cl<AV'^  suic  ' 

li,.  uui  wiih  i«" '>' : 

and  sides  i.>.r.U; 
feet  bUick.     Lr,o 

.  tuft  of  grass  "V.v 
I,,,  roots,  and  u>u-. 

L,  marked  witl'  a.r. 


1  Arctic  regi>'n^^'' 
|v  stragglers  frov: 
the  reniote  aiv. 


The  Longspur  occurs  in  winter  in  South  Carolina.  Kentucky, 
and  Kansas,  tliougli  it  is  not  common  south  of  al)out  40^. 

Of  its  song  Mr.  Ilagerup  writes  to  me:  "It  sounds  l)est  when 
tile  liird,  after  mounting  up  in  the  sky,  drops  slowly  to  the  earth 
with  extended  wings.  The  song  is  not  very  long,  hut  lias  a  sweet, 
tlute-likc  tone,  and  though  the  melofh'  is  attractive,  it  is  almost  mel- 
anclioly  in  its  wild  plaintivcness,  —  as,  indeed,  all  the  notes  of  this 
species  are." 

XoTi:.  —  One  example  of  the  Cni:sT\rT-(  oi.i.aki-d  Loncisitk 
^Cti:  .in'i/s  oniatiis)  was  captured  in  Massacluisutts  in  iSyf).  The 
u.^iial  range  of  this  bird  is  limited  to  the  Central  Plains.  —  from 
Tlx's  to  tlie  .Saskatchewan. 

SMirn's  LoNGSi'UU  {Ca/cariiis  pictitsK  which  occurs  in  the  in- 
terior, -  breeding  from  the  Great  Slave  Lake  district  to  liie  Arctic 
Ocean,  —  is  found,  in  winter,  in  IlHnois. 

NOL,   I.  20 


r-' 


SCARLET  TANAGER. 

PiRA\(;A    ERN'l'HROMr.r.AS. 

Char.  Male  :  scarlet,  with  black  wini^s  and  tail.  Female  and  yninig. 
above,  olive;  wings  and  tail  dusky,  tlic  feathers  (jdgecl  with  olive  ;  hi  \<'\\\ 
greenish  yellow.     Length  7  to  7^^  inches. 

AI'.fA  In  a  woodhind  grove,  sometimes  in  an  orchard,  placed  near  the 
extremity  of  a  horizontal  limb  10  to  20  feet  from  thu  ground  ;  compix  ' 
of  twigs,  roots,  or  shreds  of  bark,  and  lined  with  roots,  sometimes  wi'.i 
pinc-ncedles. 

•^C;".f'  3~5  (usually  4) ;  dull  white  or  with  blue  tinge,  thickly  marked. 
chiefly  about  larger  end,  with  several  shades  of  brown  and  lilac  ;  0.93 
X  0.65. 

This    splendid    and   transient   resident,  accompanying   fine 
weather  in  all  his  wanderings,  arrives  from  his  winter  station  in 
tropical  America  from  the  beginning  to  the  middle  of  May, 
and  extends  his  migrations  probably  to  Nova  Scotia  as  well  as  1 
Canada.     With  the  shy,  unsocial,  and  suspicious  habits  (ifhisj 
gaudy  fraternity,  he  takes  up  his  abode  in  the  deepest  irccxl 


SCARLET  TANACiLK. 


307 


I  Female  and  young, 
with  c.Uve  ;  iHlow, 

[,„!,  placed  near  ihc 

.rrouml;  comi'-;' 
its,  sometimes  wi'.n 

,ac,  thickly  nuvkcd. 
,wu  and  lilac ;  0.9; 

companying  t>n^^ 
winter  stuti-n  m 

middle  of  ^l'^}' 
Iscotia  as  well  as 
lous  habits  ot  li'^ 
le  deepest  i''c:c== 


of  the  forest,  where,  timidly  flitting  from  observation,  he  darts 
tiom  tree  to  tree  Hke  a  flashing  meteor.  A  gaiuly  sylph,  con- 
srious  of  his  briUianc-e  and  the  exposure  to  which  it  subjects 
liim,  he  seems  to  avoid  remark,  and  is  only  si^liciious  to  be 
known  to  his  immble  mate,  and  hid  fnjm  all  besides.  He 
tiicrefore  rarely  approaches  the  habitations  of  men,  unless 
ji  rh;ii)s  the  skirts  of  the  orchard,  where  he  sometimes,  how- 
v\i.r,  builds  his  nest,  and  takes  a  taste  of  the  early  and  inviting, 
tin  High  forbidden,  cherries. 

Among  the  thick  foliage  of  the  tree  in  which  he  seeks  sup- 
1)1  Hi  and  shelter,  from  the  lofty  branches,  at  times  we  hear  his 
almost  monotonous  tship  ivifcc,  tship-'idcc,  or  tshi'tkaiicv,  tshu- 
/<<!,/,■<'  repeated  at  short  intervals  and  in  a  ])ensive  undertone, 
Ik  iuhtcncd  by  the  solitude  in  which  he  delights  to  dwell,  'i'lie 
siiiic  note  is  also  uttered  by  the  female  when  the  retreat  of 
hrisilf  and  yoimg  is  approached  ;  and  the  male  occasionally 
nuns  in  recognition  to  his  mate,  as  they  perambulate  the 
branches,  a  low  whisjjcring  'hii/'m  a  tone  of  caution  and  tender- 
iH>x  But  besides  these  calls  on  the  female,  he  has  also  diir- 
in.;  ihe  period  of  incubation,  and  for  a  considerable  time  after, 
a  more  musical  strain,  resembling  somewhat  in  the  mellowness 
of  its  tones  the  song  of  the  fifing  Baltimore.  The  syllables 
tn  which  I  have  hearkened  api)ear  like  'AV/ccrv  'auiit  'n<ait 
'r-/:. >:.'//  icait,  and  'joaii  'vchoK'it  vca  wait,  with  other  addi- 
tiDiiN  of  harmony  for  which  no  words  are  ade(iuate.  'I'his 
pkasing  and  highly  musical  meandering  ditty  is  delivered  for 
hiiiirs,  in  a  contemplative  mood,  in  the  same  tree  with  his 
busy  consort.  If  surprised,  they  flit  together,  but  soon  return 
to  iheir  favorite  station  in  the  spreading  boughs  of  the  shady 
oak  or  hickory.  The  song  resembles  that  of  the  Red-eyed 
^'irl.■o  in  its  compass  and  strain,  though  much  suj)erior,  the 
''icaif  KHiit  being  whistled  very  sweetly  in  several  tones  and 
with  emphasis,  so  that  upon  the  whole,  our  J^innik^a  may  be 
considered  as  duly  entitled  to  various  excellence,  being  harmless 
to  the  farmer,  brilliant  in  ])lumage,  and  liaimonious  in  voice. 

These  birds  only  sojourn  long  enough  to  rear  their  single 
hrodii,  which  are  here  fledged  early  in  July,  leaving  us  already 


;o8 


SIN(.IN(i    lilRDS. 


fi)r  the  South  about  the  middle  or  close  of  Aucnist,  or  as  soon 
as  the  young  are  well  able  to  endure  the  taiiL^ui-  of  an  extensive 
niif^'raiion  in  company  with  their  parents.  The  female  shows 
great  solicitude  for  the  safety  of  her  only  brood,  and  on  an 
a])proach  to  the  nest  appears  to  be  in  great  distress  and  appK 
hension.  When  they  are  released  from  her  more  immediaii; 
protection,  the  male,  at  fn'st  caiuious  anil  distant,  ninv  attends 
and  feeds  them  with  activity,  being  altogether  indifieri'iit  to 
that  concealment  which  his  gaudy  dress  seems  to  require  from 
his  natural  enemies.  So  atlacheil  t(j  his  now  interesting  lirood 
is  the  Scarlet  Tanager  that  he  has  been  known,  at  all  hazanU, 
to  follow  for  half  a  mile  one  of  his  young,  submitting  to  fei  d 
it  attentively  through  the  bars  of  a  cage,  and,  with  a  devotion 
which  despair  could  not  damp,  roost  by  in  the  branches  of  the 
s:une  tree  with  its  prison  ;  so  strong,  indeed,  is  this  innate  anil 
■  heroic  feeling  that  life  itself  is  less  cherished  than  the  desire 
of  aiding  and  supporting  his  endearing  progeny  (^^'ilson). 

The  food  of  the  Scarlet  'lanager  while  with  us  con^i^t> 
chielly  of  wingc<l  insects,  wasps,  hornets,  and  wild  bees,  as 
well  as  smaller  kinds  of  beetles  and  other  shelly  tribes  ;  it 
probably  also  sometimes  feeds  on  seeds,  and  is  particukuiy 
partial  to  whortleberries  and  other  kinds  which  the  season 
affords. 

About  the  beginning  of  August  the  male  begins  to  moult, 
and  then  exchanges  his  nuptial  scarlet  for  the  greenish  liv(  ry 
of  the  female.  At  this  period  these  birds  leave  us;  and  ha\iii.' 
passed  the  winter  in  the  celibacy  indicated  l)y  this  huniMc 
garb,  they  arrive  again  among  us  on  its  vernal  renewal,  ami 
so  soon  after  this  change  that  individuals  are  at  this  time  occai 
sionally  seen  with  the  speckled  livery  of  early  autumn,  or  with] 
a  confused  mixture  of  green  and  scarlet  feathers  in  scattered 
patches. 

The  Scarlet  Tanager  is  common  throughout  this  Eastern  I'rov 
ince  north  to  about  latitude  44^,  and  occurs  si)aringly  along 
Annapolis  valley,  in  Xova  Scotia  and  along  the  valley  of  tin  S:  I 
John  in  New  Brunswick,  also  near  the  city  of  Quel)ec  and  in  th-j 
vicinity  of  Lake  Winnipeg.     It  winters  in  the  West  Indies  anij 
northern  South  America. 


i 


St.  or  ns  soon 
,f  an  c-xtensivr 

„\,  ami  on  an 
CSS  and  ;i\)l«r^' 
lorc  inimoiluiu: 
nt,  now  aUcnds 
r  indil'tV'V^'nl  U) 
to  iLHiuirc  trum 
.Uercstingbnn.a 
1,  at  all  ha/.ar.l->. 
j'niitting  to  f^^'l 
,  with  a  devotion 
;  \,ranchcs  of  the 
is  this  innate  an^l 
[  than  the  desive 
iy  (Wilson). 

with   us   con^i-ts 
and  Nvild  \>ees,  as 

shelly  tribes;  it 
„a  is  particnlarly 
[which  the  season 

begins  to  nionlt, 
Ihe  greenish  hvay 
Ive  us  ;  and  havnw 
\\  \)y  this  humble' 
rnal  renewal,  au'l 
at  this  time  oc>  a- 
Iv  autumn,  or  with 
Uhers  in  scattered 


this  Eastern  T'o^ 
sparingly  along  tb 

\  valley  of  the    .. 

Quebec  and  n'  i.'.- 
e  West  Indies  an- 


lie 


Sl-.MMER  TA\A(.i:u.  .yy 


summf:r  'I'.\\.\(;i:r. 

SUMMKK    Ki;i)   i;iKl). 
I'IKANCA    Kn;K\. 

••UAU  Mai.:  rich  vun.ilinn.  .lulk,  al„.vc..  Female  and  v.-nn- • 
almvu,  dull  ohvc;  bcluw,  dull  bull.     Lcn^mli  abuut  7;^  inLJics 

AoA  Ou  the  cdt;c  ..I  an  „,,ui  giuvc  or  by  a  roadside,  i.hucd  laar 
tl...  extremity  ol  a  h..n/outal  lin.b,  con.pnsed  ol  grass,  leave>,  au.l  veuc 
l.iljic  lihre,  lined  with  grass.  ° 

Avs-.  J-.l;  I>ii,t;lit  green.  s..n.etiuies  with  a  tinge  of  blue,  spoiled, 
ehielly  near  the  larger  end,  with  various  shades  of  brown  and  I'uri.le  • 
0.1J5  X  0.O5.  '      '      ' 

litis  l.rilliant  and  transient  resident,  like  the  former  species, 
P :>>.cs  the  greatest  jiart  of  the  year  in  tropical  America,  whence' 
m  his  gaudy  nnplial  suit  he  presents  himself  witli  his  humble 
iii.ite  in  the  Southern  Slates  in  the  latter  end  of  April  or  by 
the    1st  of  May.     In  Pennsylvania  these  birds  are  but  rarvly 
seen,  though   in  the  warm  and  san.ly  barren  forests  of  New 
jersey  several  i)airs  may  usually  he  observed  in  the  course  of 
eurv  season  ;  farther  north  they  are  unknouii,  ceding  those 
remnns  ai)paremly  to  the  scarlet  si)ecies.     They  are  not  con- 
li'H.l  to  any  particular  soil,  though  often  met  with  in  bushy, 
harrin  tracts,  and  are  consequently  common  e\-en  to  the  west 
of  the  Mississii)pi,  in  Lotiisiana  and  the  Territory  of  Arkansas, 
as  well  as  Mexico  ;    they  also  breed  near  the  i)anks  of  that 
river  arotmd  Natchez. 

Ihe  nest  is  built  in  the  woods  on  the  low,  horizontal  ])ranch 
"I  a  tree,  often  in  an  evergreen  10  or  12  feet  from  the  ground. 
h"th  parents  assist  in  inctibation,  and  the  voung  are  fledged 
hy  the  middle  or  latter  end  of  June.  Thev  onlv  raise  a  siiigle 
l'ro.H|  in  the  season,  and  towards  the  middle  or  close  "of 
All-list  the  whole  ])arty  disapiK\ar  on  their  way  to  the  Sotith, 
tli'-uuh  the  young  remain  later  than  the  old  and  more  restless 
birds. 

The  note  of  the  male,  like  that  of  the  Baltimore  Bird,  is  said 
to  be  a  strong  and  sonorous  whistle,  resembling  the  trill  or 


310 


sixc;l\g  uikds. 


musical  shake  on  the  fife,  and  is  frequently  repeated,  'llu- 
note  of  the  fema'e  is  a  chattering,  and  appears  almost  like  tin 
rai)iil  pf-onunciation  of  tshicky-tiikky-tiik,  tshicky-ttikky-tuk,  and 
is  chietly  uttered  in  alarm  when  any  person  approaches  tlu 
vicinity  of  her  nest.  From  the  similarity  of  her  color  to  thr 
foliage  of  the  trees,  she  is,  however,  rarely  seen,  and  is  usuallv 
mute  ;  while  the  locpiacity  and  brilliance  of  the  male  render 
him.  as  he  flits  timidly  and  wildly  through  the  branches,  a  niu^t 
distinguished  and  beautiful  object. 

'I'he  i(U)d  of  !he  Sununer  Red  Dird  is  very  similar  to  that  (  f 
the  preceding  species;  bugs,  beetles,  ^nd  stinging  bees  make 
part  of  his  re])ast,  as  well  as  flies  and  cynips  of  various  kinds, 
afliT  which  he  often  darts  about  until  hindered  by  the  ap- 
l)roach  of  night.  The  late  suppers  are  jM'obably  necessary, 
f'-'in  the  almost  nocturnal  habits  of  some  of  these  insed 
tribes.  After  the  jieriod  of  incubation,  and  until  their  dc]  ii- 
ture.  whortleberries  and  other  kinds  of  berries  form  no  im  nn. 
siderable  part  of  the  ftjod  of  these  birds. 

I'liis  species  docs  not  occur  rcnularlv  north  of  New  Jcimv, 
southern  Ohio,  and  soulliern  Illinois.  Occasionally  st'agtilei.^  iic 
found  in  Connecticut  and  .Massachusetts,  and  two  cxami)lcs  Imw 
been  taken  in  New  Brunswick,  one  in  Nova  Scotia,  four  iKii 
Montri.'al,  and  one  at  Hamilton.  Ont;uio. 


Xori--.  —  (^ne  si)ccinien  of  the  Loi'isi.WA  T.WAOFK  (/VV.- 
iinf'i'i'hiaihi)  a  Western  species  —  has  been  taken  in  Xew  i. 
land.     It  was  shot  near  Lynn  in  i.S/S. 


INI) ICO    IJUNTINr,. 
Passi:ri:;,\  cvaxi'.a. 

Chak.     Male  ;  ■ndi^o  liltie,  inlcnsc  on  head  and  throat,  nihcr 
tinged  witli  green;  Mack  liai-  fioni  bill  to  eyes;  wings  dull  browi 
edge  of  teatlicrs  tinged  with  dull  blue.      Female:  alxne,  browh  ;  1 
much  ]iaKr.  wiih  daik  streaks.     Length  about  5'2  iuchcs. 

iVrsf.     (hi  the  margin  of  a  meadnw  or  counlry  road,  or  in  an  ■ 
or  garden,  in  a  bush  or  low  trc',  [ilaccd  in  an  upright  crolcii ;  a 


I 


ti;; 


INDIGO   liUNTIXG. 


II 


ated.    '1"^^^' 
t)st  lilvc  ilu- 
';ky-tiik,  anil 
troacbes  tin- 
color  to  tl'.C 
nd  is  usu;illv 
male  reivU'i 
nches,  am*-t 

Wax  to  that  if 
ur  bees  niakf 
varioi^^s  k\n'i>. 
..(1  \)y  the  .'V- 
b\y  nccessiiiA. 
,f  these  in^r.i 
i;  iheir  (lei^r- 
form  nu  in*>'»- 

of  New  Jev>cy, 
Uy  slra.uii^evs  arc 
)  c>:am\)les  luivc 
fccotia,  four  uc^^r 


ton  in  New  l-";;- 


lthvo;\t,  other  v 
L,v<  iluU  brow;!, 
live,  brown;  '"" 

Ihcs. 

l\,  or  in  .in  ■    > '' 

Tht  crotcVi ;  a     ■' 


I  hnnsy  and  bulky  affair  of  twigs,  stems,  grass,  etc.,  lined  witii  tine  grass, 
etc.,  sometimes  with  liorsc-hair. 

K^xs.     4-5;  while,  sometimes  witii  iiliie  or  green  tint,  occasionally  with 
,1  few  line  spots  uf  purplish  brown;  0.75  X  O.55. 

This  very  bcatitifiil  and  rather  familiar  messenger  of  summer, 
iftcr  passing  the  winter  in  tropical  America,  towards  the  15th 
iif  May,  decked  in  his  brilliant  azure  livery  of  the  mii)tial  sea- 
Miu,  again  joyfully  visits  his  natal  regions  in  the  Middle  Stales; 
and  about  a  week  or  ten  days  later  his  lively  trill  in  the  garden, 
orchard,  or  on  the  top  of  the  house,  its  chimney,  or  vane,  is 
first  heard  in  tliis  part  of  New  England.  Still  later,  acconipa- 
jiicd  by  lis  mate,  he  passes  on  to  Nova  Scotia,  and  jirobalilv  to 
the  precincts  of  Labrador.  After  raising  and  training  their 
only  brood  in  a  luiiform  and  more  humble  dress,  the  whole 
fnnily,  in  color  like  so  many  common  Sparrows,  bi'gin  to 
retire  to  the  South  from  the  first  to  the  middle  of  September. 
Tluy  are  also  known  in  Mexico,  when',  as  well  as  in  the 
S  .ulliern  States  to  the  ])eninsula  of  Florida,  they  breed  and 
|i.is>  the  stimmer  as  with  us.  'I'here  is  reason,  Iiowe\(.'r.  to 
luheve  that  they  are  less  abundant,  if  seen  ai  all.  to  the  west 
of  the  Mississi 


SLNCilXC    i;iRI)S. 


cunfiiu'd  to  the  cool  and  animatint;  dawn  of  morning,  but  il 
is  renewed  and  still  more  xi^orous  during  the  noon- day  ileal 
i.)f  sinnmer.  'I'his  lively  strain  seems  composed  of  a  re|)eli- 
tion  of  short  notes;  connnencing  loud  and  rajiid,  and  dien, 
slowly  fdling,  they  descend  almost  to  a  whisper,  succeedeil  by 
a  silent  interval  of  about  half  a  minute,  when  the  song  is  again 
continued  as  before.  The  most  connnon  of  these  vocal  expres- 
sions sonnds  like  ,*//<■  /s//i-  Ishc  —  tsltv  tslicc  Islu'u'  —  /she  tshc 
tslu\  The  middle  syllables  are  uttered  lispingly,  in  a  ver\ 
peculiar  manner,  and  the  three  last  gradually  fall;  sometimes 
the  song  is  varied  and  shortened  into  tslua  tslua  tslua  (shrili. 
the  last  sound  being  sometimes  doubled.  This  shorter  song 
is  usually  nttered  at  the  time  that  the  female  is  engaged  in 
the  cares  of  incubation,  or  as  the  brood  already  a])pear,  and 
when  too  great  a  display  of  music  might  endanger  the  rclirnig 
security  of  the  family.  l'"rom  a  young  or  imperfectly  moullni 
mnle.on  the  smnmit  of  a  weeping-willow,  [  heard  the  following 
singularly  lively  syllables.  V/-'  V/r  '//(■  /</  /v.  re])eate(l  at  short 
intervals.  \\'hile  thus  ]irominendy  exjxjsed  to  \ii'w.  the  lilllc 
airv  minstrel  is  continually  on  the  watch  against  any  surjiri^e. 
and  if  h(>  be  steadily  looked  at  or  hearkened  to  with  visililc 
attention,  in  the  next  instant  he  is  off  to  seek  otit  some  securer 
elevation.  In  the  village  of  Cambridge  I  have  seen  one  "f 
these  azure,  ahiiost  celestial  musicians,  regularly  (hant  to  ihe 
inmates  of  a  tall  dwelling-house  from  the  summit  of  the  chim- 
ney or  the  point  of  the  forked  lightning-rod.  I  have  also 
heard  a  Canary,  within  hearing,  rejieat  and  imitate  the  slowly 
lis])ing  trill  t)f  the  Indigo  llird,  whose  warble  indeed  olun 
greatly  resembles  that  of  this  si)ecies.  The  female,  bef'iv 
hatching  her  brood,  is  but  seldom  seen,  and  is  then  scarci  ly 
distinguishable  from  a  conniion  Snarrow  ;  nor  is  she  ever  to  be 
ohserved  beyond  the  humble  bushes  and  weeds  in  which  ^\\t 
connnonly  resides. 

The  nest  of  our  l)ird  is  usually  built  in  a  low  bush  partly  <  ii- 
coaled  by  rank  grass  or  grain  ;  at  times  in  the  forks  of  a  yo  ii,4 
orchard  tree  lo  or  12  feet  from  thj  ground.  I  have  also  -  rii 
one  suspended  in  a  complicated  manner  in  a  trelli>cd  gi,;|n.- 


ning,  bill  it 

oi  a  rci)0U- 
,  and   th^n, 
u-.cccilcil  li\ 
;ong  is  a;j,ain 
■or,al  cxpi'-^- 
•  —  ts/i('  A//'' 
y,   in   a  vci\ 
;  somcliuus 

/s/i('('  fs/i/>''- 
shorter  s^julz 
IS  c:n;j;aL!;eil  m 
y  appear,  ami 
or  the  reliniiLi 
foctly  mouU^'i 
I  the  following 
.■ated  at  short 
view,  the  huU' 
t  any  snrpvi>^'. 
to  with  visible 
it  some  securer 
e  seen  one  "f 
V  (-hant  to  ilie 
it  of  the  chini- 
1   have  al>o 
ilate  the  slmvlv 
indeed  otu:n 
female,   before 
s  then  scanvly 
she  ever  to  be 
Is  in  which  >he 


,nsh  partly  con- 
forks  of  a  young 
It  have  also  seen 
irL-lli^ed  gnii'e- 


' 


\'i 


nc.     Ifleft  undi 


IXDICKj    IJL'\TI.\(i. 
stuilx-(I,  they  often  build  in  il 


3^3 


or  orcliard  lor  se\oral  successive  y 


le  same  Lranl 


en 


nes 


t  IS  suspended  betwixt  two  t 


ears. 


^Vhen  in  a  bush,  the 
!.%  i)assing  up  on  either  .sidi 


.  U-rnally  .    ,s  composed  of  coarse  sedye-grass.  some  withered 
K-.nes   and  hned  with  fine  stalks  of  the  sanu,  and  the  slende 
l-a.r-   ke   tops  of  the   bent-,rass    (-/...//o.   with   a  u^t 
p-wdKurs  ;  though  so.netimes  they  make  a  sul.tantial  lin  n^  o f 
'-.      '    ---t  whtch    r   saw  in   the  vuK.  was  composed  ou 
-nlly  o,  eoarse  strips  of  hass-mat,  weeds,  and   .L  strings 

■■'1-1  up  u.  the  ganlen,  ami  hned  with   horsedKur  a,,d  a  fe^ 

OS  o    bent-grass.     The   young   here  seareelv   leave  the  nes 

''-:»-  the  end  of  July  or  the  first  week   ,n  August,  and  21 

ra.s.MtsuaIlyln.t  a  single  bnKHl  in  the  season.  They  appu 
"•>l-u- great  timidity  about  their  nest,  and  often  readily  fo;. 
-!-■  U  u-hen  touched,  or  when  an  egg  is  ahstracte.l.  Th.ir 
"-.'I  note  of  alarm  when  themselves  or  their  ^„un.^  .re 
''l'!'-;''Hed  ,s  a  sharp  ,.M.,  ...j.-kly  and  anxioudv  repeated 
--nhhng  ahnost  the  striking  of  two  pebbles.  They  will  not' 
'-ke  the.r  young,  howev.r  rca.ly  they  .nay  h.  to  ,vli,„,,n.h 
Hnr  eggs;  and  they  have  been  known  to  fl^d  their  hn.od 
^e.T  fmhAtlly  through  the  bars  of  a  cage  i,i  uhich  they  were 

Tin-sspeaes_,s  a  common  .summer  resident  f,-om  So„,I.  c-a.olina 
,;;■'"'  f\^;;"^  .^'"^  ^'^^  ^'^>-  «f  Qi'^'^^c,  and  westu..,d  th-,u  "h 
l..no  an.I  Ill.no.s  to  the  G.eat  Plains.     It  also  onurs  ore as.'or 
ally..,  caste.-n  .Maine  and  the  Maiatime  I'.ovinccs 


X,„K        One    example   of   the    Vahihu    HiNr.xo    ( /',^f  wr/;,,, 
■-^:^"/'>r)h:,,  been  captured    in   .southern    Miehi-an.      Its   u. 

'ah.Ut  ,s  the  valley  of, he  Kio,;,-a„de  and  I.uue,-C.d,fo,-nil 


314 


SINGING   IHRDS. 


PAINTED    BUNTING. 

NONPAREIL. 
P.VSSERINA    CIRIS. 

Char.  Male:  head  and  neck  purplish  blue  ;  eyelids  red;  back  yellow- 
ish yreen  ;  rump  ])urplish  red  ;  wings  dusky,  glossed  with  green  and  ri  ; ; 
tail  purplish  brown;  below,  vermilion.  Female:  above,  pale  ulive ;  Lc- 
low,  dull  buff.     Length  5^4;  to  ^yi  inches. 

A't'sf.  In  a  thicket  of  low  bushes;  compactly  made  of  twigs,  roots, 
shreds  of  bark  and  grass,  lined  with  line  grass  or  horse-hair,  or  fine  routs. 

/''i,Xs.  4-5  ;  dull  white,  or  with  blue  tint,  marked  chiefly  around  lai-ti 
end  with  purplirh  and  reddish  brown ;  o.So  X  0.60. 

This  splendid,  gay,  and  docile  bird,  known  to  the  Ameri(:;ins 
as  the  Nonpareil,  and  to  the  French  Louisianians  as  the  /^A', 
inhabits  the  woods  of  the  low  c(juntries  of  the  Southern  Stairs, 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  sea  and  along  the  borders  of  the  laircr 
rivers,   from   North  Carolina   to  Mexico.     It  arrives  from  its 
tropical  quarters  in  Louisiana  and  deorgia  from  the  mii'.ille 
to  the   3  0th    of  .\pril  ;  but  impatient  of  cold,  retires  to  the 
South  early  in  October,  and  is  supposed  to  winter  about  Wra 
Cruz.      For  the  sake  of  their  song  as  well  as  beauty  of  pliuii- 
age,  these  birds  are  commonly  domesticated  in  the  houses  uf 
the  l-'rench  inhabitants  of  New  Orleans  and  its  vicinity;  and 
s(jme  have  sticceeded  in  raising  them  in  captivity,  where  pK  iity 
of  room  was  allowed  in  an  aviarv.     '1  hev  are  familiar  alsn  in 
the  gardens  and  orchards,  where  their  warbling  notes  an-  al- 
most peqietually  heard  throughout  the  summer.     'I'heir  >)n.' 
much   resembles  that  of  the   Indigo   I5ird,  but  their  voi(  r  ij 
more  feeble  and  concise.     Soon  reconciled  to  the  cage,  ihoy 
will  sing  even  a  few  days  after  being  caught.     Their  food  i'i>n- 
sists  of  rice,  insects,  and  various  kinds  of  seeds;  they  ci'llat 
also  the  grains  of  the  ripe  figs,  and,  frequenting  gardens,  Imiiil 
often   within   a    few   paces    of  the   house,  being   partici.lirly 
attache* I  to  the  orangeries. 

Their  nests  are  usually  made  in  the  hedges  of  the  oran^f.  or 
on  the  lower  branches  of  the  same  tree,  likewise  occasiiMiall; 
in  a  bramble  or  thornv  bush.     In  the  mildest  climates  in  >'  hi' : 


WIIITE-CROWXEl )  SPARROW. 


315 


d ;  back  yellow- 
i  nriccn  and  v>  ; ; 
,  pule  olive ;  1^^;- 

of  twigs,  ro.'., 
^air,ol-ftncr(M.t^. 
;rty  around  lai-,Li 

,  the  Amefu  :ins 
ins  as  the  /''/'''> 
Southern  Suius, 
rs  of  the  lavier 
arrives  irom  it^ 
from  the  nVuMlc 
a,  retires  to  the 
nter  about  V^-^^ 
beauty  of  r^"-'^^" 
[in  the  houses  d 

its  vicinity  ;  -'n*! 
'•itv,\vhererhr.iy 

,  famihar  also  in 
iin<r  notes  arr  al- 

>,cr.   'ri^^i^  ^'"^:^ 

|ut  their  voice  is 
to  the  cage,  ibcy 
1  Their  food  con- 
eds;  they  c<'lU'''« 
]vj;  gardens,  '"i'''' 
.elng   particv.l.irly 

1  of  the  oran'i'- 
wise  occasiona'lv 


they  pass  the  summer,  they  raise  two  broods  in  the  season. 
I'hey  are  commonly  caught  in  trap-cages,  to  which  they  are 
sometimes  allured  by  a  slut'fed  bird,  which  they  descend  to 
;itiack  ;  a  id  they  have  been  known  to  survive  in  domestica- 
liun  for  upvv'ards  of  ten  years. 

Tills  .species  is  coninioii  in  tlie  Soutli  Atlantic  and  (iulf  States, 
and  has  been  taken  north  to  southern  Illinois  and  .Xorlli  Carolina. 


Note. — The  GKASS(ji"n'  {I'.ucthcia  hitolor)  and  the  Mia.o- 
!)i(i(s  Gkassouit  (luietltcia  caiiora)  —  both  West  India  birds  - 
liave  been  taken  in  southern  Florida,  though  they  are  merely 
accidental  wanderers  there. 


■liiiiates  m 


NVhi'. 


W H ITE-C  ROWX  E  D  SP. \  RROW. 

Zf»X(  HRU  I IIA    I.IX'CtirilRVS. 

Char.  Upper  parts  Ijiown,  streaked  with  brownish  black,  dull  bay, 
ami  ]ialc  ash;  crown  white,  bordered  by  bands  of  lilack,  lines  ui  black 
aiil  white  from  eyes  to  hind  neck;  wings  with  two  while  bars  ;  lielow,  dark 
a- h,  whitening  on  throat  and  belly;  flanks  shaded  with  bnnvn.  Length 
a'xiut  7  inches. 

,\",r/.  In  an  open  woodland,  on  the  ground  or  in  a  low  bush, — 
usually  concealed  in  grass  at  the  foot  of  a  bush ;  firmly  made  of  dried 
gra-s  'incd  with  fine  grass, — sometimes  with  deer's  hair  or  feathers,  or 
muts. 

/■',^\'s.  4-6;  greenish  white  or  bluish  white  thickly  spotted  with  rcd- 
i!l>-h  brown ;  0.90  X  o  65. 

i'his  rare  and  handsome  species  is  very  little  known  in  any 
part  of  the  I'nited  States,  a  few  stragglers  only  being  seen 
aho'it  the  beginning  of  winter,  and  again  in  May  or  earlier,  on 
tluir  way  back  to  their  Northern  breeding-places,  in  the  fur 
conutries  and  round  Hudson's  ikiy,  which  they  \isit  from  the 
South  in  May,  and  construct  tlieir  nests  in  June  in  the  vicinity 
of  Albany  h'ort  and  Severn  River.  These  are  fixed  on  the 
gn '•111,1^  or  near  it,  in  the  shelter  of  the  willow-trees  which 
tlu  \  Lj,lean,  probably  with  ir.any  other  birds,  for  the  insects 
wh;.  h  frequent  them. 


3i6 


SINGING   lURDS. 


At  this  season  the  male  sings  in  a  loud,  clear,  musical,  but 
rather  plaintive  tone,  the  song  consisting  of  six  or  seven  notes : 
these  he  repeats  at  short  intervals  during  the  whole  day.  C)n 
the  13th  of  April,  i<S35,  I  saw  fl(jcks  of  this  species  amonu 
the  thickits  in  the  vicinity  of  Santa  Barbara,  Upper  C'aUforuii 
'I'hey  sung  with  a  feebli',  (juaint  note,  to  me  unlike  that  of  an\ 
other  spec:ies,  and  almost  similar  to  some  of  the  notes  of  ll, 
Chickadee.  As  they  dcjiart  from  Hudson  Hay  in  Se])teml)tv. 
it  is  ]>robable  that  they  princi[)ally  winter  in  the  Canadi.m 
provinces,  otherwise,  as  i)assengers  farther  scnith,  they  wonM 
be  seen  more  abundantly  in  the  United  States  than  they  arc 
Indeed,  as  they  approach  this  part  of  New  lCnglan<l  only  in 
small  desultory  parlies  in  the  winter,  as  in  November  ainl 
December,  it  is  evident  that  they  only  migrate  a  short  distan(  i 
in  c[uest  (jf  food,  and  return  to  the  North  at  the  approach  ut 
fine  weather.  \Vhile  here  they  api)ear  silent  and  solitary,  and 
arc  not  difticult  to  approach.  Their  food,  as  u^ual,  is  seed^  of 
grasses,  insects,  and  their  larva,'. 

This  species  is  not  so  rare  in  our  day  as  Nuttall  evidently  con- 
sidered it,  for  it  is  now  more  or  less  abundant  throughout  tlii.- 
Kastcrn  I'rovince,  though  Hkely  to  ai(i>ear  in  irregular  numbers  at 
anv  given  locality.  It  breeds  in  northern  Maine  and  New  T5run.s- 
wick,  and  north  to  sub-arctic  regions.  Nests  have  been  found  .iLso 
in  \'crniont  and  New  ^'ork.  Tlie  birds  are  met  with  in  winter  t'nim 
southern  New  luiLrland  southward. 


musical,  bul 
seven  notes  ; 
jle  day.  C)n 
oecies  amonu 
er  California, 
x-  that  of  any 

notes  of  tlu- 

in  September. 

the   Canadian 

th,  they  woulil 

than  they  are 
nirland  only  in 
Nt)\  ember  aii'l 
I  sliort  <Ustan<  r 
lie  approach  ul 
ml  solitary,  and 
i>ual,  is  seeds  of 

■^\\  evidently  c<hv 

1  throu.^hout  Uii- 

ular  numbers  at 

md  New  V-n-ais- 

\)L'en  found  al.-o 

th  in  winter  iiom 


J.ARK    .Sr.\RR()\V. 

I.AKK    I''l.\(  11. 
ChO%DE.STE.S   (■[<.\  M.MACUS. 

'■„.\K  Above,  grayish  r»live;  the  back  I,mwn,  with  tine  streaks  of 
!'l.ul<;  tail  bhick,- excepting  central  feather., -tipped  with  white,  outer 
wc.  „  outer  pa,r  entirely  white;  crown  chestnut,  with  naclian  line  of 
<lull  uinte  h.,e  over  the  eye  dull  white  ;  white  crescent  under  the  eves 
ordered  by  black,  and  behind  by  chestnt-.t:  b..luw  white  tinged  w  i 
l.nnvu  ;   breast  with  patch  of  black.     I.e„^th  ..'<  ro  7  inches 

.U.'A     Usuallv  a.nid  a  tuft  of  grass,  but  sometitnes  in  a  tree  or  busli- 
o.n)po.sed  of  grass  and  vegetable  fibre.  ' 

^^^V'-'     3-5  (usually  4);  white  or  with  blue  or  buff  tint  marked  with 
sp.t.  and  hues  of  dark  bmw.i  or  black  ;  o.Sc  x  0.O-. 

-J  J*  • 

I'or  this  species  we  are  again  in,lel)te(l  to  Nfr.  Snv  ^yhn  o],- 
MTved  ,t  m  abundance  near  the  Connril  VMfs  and  the  nei-di- 
l'"n-r^  eotuury  of  the  Missouri  ,n  the  spri,l,^  as  well  as  in  the 
""^•1^1^  of  Jtnie.  It  appears  to  be  whollv  ronfine.i  to  the  west 
Mde  ot  the  Mississippi,  an.l  probably  extends  into  Mcxivo 
ll'>->'  birds  frequent  the  prairie  gr.  tnds.  and  seldom  if  ever 
ali:,Mt  on  trees;   they  sing  sweetly,  and,   like  the   I.arks,  have 


th 


e  ii 


Mr.'l 


ibit  of  continuing  their  notes  whik 


on  th 


e  wintr. 


ownsend  observ 


es 


drcd  miles  of  the  I'Inttc  plain 
^':ink,  of  the  Coliimbi 


This  species  hihabits  seventl  hun- 
s  in  great  nntnl)ers,  as  well  as  the 


biishi 


1    Ri\er.      ft  generally   afferts   the   1 


OW 


of  wormwood   (Ar/cm/s/a),  from  the' summit  of  whicl 


1^ 


318 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


it  pours  forth  a  variety  of  pretty  notes."  At  the  commence- 
ment of  the  pairing  season  the  males  are  very  pugiuuious, 
figiiting  often  on  wing,  and  the  c:on(iuering  rival,  rejjairing  to 
the  nearest  bush,  times  his  lively  \n\)c  in  token  of  success. 

Tlie  Lark-  I''iiu;Ii  is  comnion  along  tlie  Mississippi  valley  north  Im 
Iowa  ami  soutlicrn  .Michigan.     It  has  been  taken  occasional! v  i^i 
Manitoba  and  in  Ontario,  and  a  few  cxanipk's  luivc  appeared   ii 
New  luigland.     It  is  said  to  be  the  linest  songster  of  the  Xoitli 
American  Sparrows, 


wiirri'-riiROATED  sparrow. 

PE.\I30DV    UIRI).     0[.l)-T()M-ri:.\l!()DV. 
/oNolKKlllA    AI.DKOI.l.lS. 

Chak.  ISack  straiictl,  reddish  brown  ,  black  and  chdl  luff;  sides  uf 
head,  breast,  and  rump  asliy;  crown  with  median  stri])e  of  while  bnrdeiil 
by  stripes  of  black;  stripes  of  ye!U)W  from  bill  to  eyes;  stripes  of  white 
over  eyes;  stripes  of  black  thrtnigh  eyes;  throat  wliite,  ijordcred  liv 
black;  belly  white,  the  sides  shaded  with  brown;  wings  with  two  white 
bars.     Length  GVz  to  7  inches. 

A^i'sf.  In  an  okl  meadow  or  open  woodl.ind,  or  on  the  edge  of  a  grir,  c  ; 
placed  on  the  ground  upon  a  cushion  of  moss;  composed  of  grass,  stems, 
roots,  etc.,  lined  witli  fine  grass  or  roots, — sometimes  with  hair  or 
feathers. 

AsX''''-  4-5!  P-ile  greenish  blue,  thickly  marked  with  several  shade.^  of 
reddish  brown  ;  0.85  X  0.60. 

These  large  and  handsome  Sparrows  are  seen  in  this  jxiri  of 
Massachusetts  only  as  transient  visitors  at  the  approach  of 
winter,  or  in  sjjring  about  the  first  week  in  May.  In  \hv 
Middle  and  Southern  States  they  pass  the  inclement  sea-Hi. 
and  appear  there  as  a  numerous  species.  A  flock  has  ln-cr, 
observed  in  the  State  of  New  York  in  the  month  of  Janu.uy. 
In  their  hibernal  resorts  they  are  seen  in  bands,  and  show  ;i 
predilection  for  thickets,  swamps,  small  streams,  and  the  bor- 
ders of  ponds,  where,  among  the  tall  and  bleaching  wei^ds, 
they  continue  to  collect  the  seeds,  and  i')roba1)ly  insect  l,irv>e, 
which  constitute  their  usual  fare.  While  here  they  keep  iiiiifli 
on  the  ground,  and  seek  out  cool  and  shady  situations,  sciiiich- 


wiirri:-Tiiia)Ari:i)  siakkow. 


319 


rc\>ainng  i" 

^Ucvnovtl^  1- 
cciisionaUy  i" 

oi  the  NoiUi 


of  Nvliivc  \)c.vuota 

,biic,  bovdeicd  by 
,gs  vvilh  two  NVI'AC 

;,,a  of  grass  stc.ns 
.imcs  Nvilh   luuv  o, 

h  several  shadc>  of 


ini;  up  ihc  fallen  leaves  in  quest  of  wijinis  ami  other  insects, 
ami  are  at  this  time  often  very  unsusi)icious,  allowiny  a  near 
aiiproach  \vith(Mit  betraying  any  alarm;  but  when  in  large 
no(  ks,  they  move  about  in  timorous  haste  as  soon  as  ap- 
proached.  About  the  15th  of  April  they  lea\e  the  Miildle 
States,  and  retire  to  the  high  northern  latitudes  to  breed,  ha\- 
iiiLj  been  seen  in  I^abrador,  Newfoundland,  and  the  fur  coun- 
tru  s  up  to  the  66th  parallel  in  sunuuer.  At  the  period  (if 
lnviding  the  male  sings  with  c(jnsiderable  energy  and  meKnl)- 
alu  ady  in  the  early  spring  ;  also  before  their  departure  to  the 
North,  on  fine  mornings,  they  are  heard  to  whisi)er  forth  a  kw 
swret  and  clear  notes,  as  in  a  revery  of  the  approaching  hap- 
liiiu^s  of  their  more  lively  and  interesting  comlition. 

Tills  Si)arrow  —  known  10  tiie  country  people  of  the  I'^ast  as  tlie 
•i'raliody  bird"  —  breeds  al)undaiitly  in  tiie  norlliern  jjortions  uf 
Ww  \'ork  and  New  JCngland  as  well  as  in  the  Maiitinie  l'r()\iiiccs; 
anil  at  the  west  in  northern  Miciiigan  mu]  .Manitoba.  Two  nests 
liave  been  discovered  in  Ahissacluisetts.  The  bird  winters  from 
southern  New  England  southward. 

'i'lic  song,  which  is  loud  and  sweet,  is  familiar  in  the  district 
wIkiv  the  birds  l)uild.  for  they  sing  all  day  long,  and  are  often 
liL-anl  (luring  the  niglit.  It  lias  been  interpreted /6'(?-/'''''-A''''^'''6'" 
pcabody-pedbodyj  hence  the  name. 


In  in  this  pan  >'i 
Ihe    approach   ol 

In  May.     1'^  ^^^^ 

Inclement  sea-'", 

Hock  has  \'c^>^ 
Louth  of  Vanu:ny. 
Inds,  and  show  a 
Ims,  and  the  bor- 
Ibleaching  ^v^  '^~' 
]d)\v  insect  i;"V.c 
,  they  keep  uuiA 
Ituations,  scratch- 


m 


"•/.  y*v,*./«. 


Vv^^^^J^^ 


i.^<r -r^-;--*  ■ 


^^^«fr-^fe,s 


f«a9^_,^ 


VKSIM'K    Sl'ARRUW. 

GRASS    I'lNCII.     13AV-\VIN(il    >    liUNTIXG. 

I'lXHJ.KI  KS    CkA.Ml.MA  S. 

CllAK.  Alxive,  yclli)wi>li  Ijrown,  stitiikcd  with  darker;  line  over  and 
aroiuul  eyes,  wliitc  ;  sliutildcr  clicstiuit  or  hay;  two  white  bars  on  wiiii; ; 
two  outer  tail-feathers  paitlv  wliitc  ;  below,  white  with  l;)Lirfy  tiiii^c;  l^n  ,i^t 
and  sides  streaked  with  brown.      Length  about  fi'4  iitihes. 

A(,.7.  In  a  lleld,()ld  meadow,  open  pastm'c,  or  roadside,  on  the  grnniul, 
—  usually  hidilen  by  liif't  offjjrass  or  under  a  low  busli;  conijioscd  of  j^iass 
and  roots,  and  lined  with  fine  grass,  sometitnes  with  hair. 

/'.';■■;■>■.  4-6;  gravish  white,  soiiietinies  with  ureen  or  pink  tint,  thitkly 
marked  with  several  .shades  of  brown;  oSo  X  0.60. 

This  i>lain-lo()kini:(  ImiicIi  chiefly  frequents  (hy  pastures  ;iii(l 
meadows,  and  is  often  seen  ])er(he(l  on  tlie  fences  and  in 
orchard  trees  ;  it  also  often  approaches  the  public  roads  ;iiiil 
gathers  its  subsistence  tamely  from  various  S(jurces.  il  is 
abundant  in  all  the  States  east  of  the  Alteghanies,  where  ni.inv 
]-»ass  the  whole  year  ;  yet  great  numbers  also  winter  in  the  south- 
ern iKirts  of  tlie  Lhiion,  proceeding  as  far  as  the  maritime 
districts  of  deorgia  and  Florida.  I'Vom  the  beginninu  ii 
April  to  the  beginning  of  June,  the  males  sing  with  a  clear  iiiii 
agreeable  note,  scarcely  inferior  to  that  of  the  ('anary,  tho'ich 
less  loud  and  varied.  On  their  first  arrival,  as  with  the  Smij 
Sparrow,  their  notes  are  often  given  in  an  imder-tone  of  con- 
siderable sweetness.  Their  song  begins  at  early  dawn,  amli- 
again  peculiarly  frequent  after  sunset  until  dark,  when,  t'")ni 


VKSF'KR    SI'ARI. 


()\V 


\e 


I'lNG. 

kcr ;  line  over  and 
vhiic  bins  nn  win;^; 
,  buffy  tiiii^c  ;  bn  .ist 

side,  on  the  prouiul, 
composed  of  ;j,i  -iss 

„-  pink  tint,  tbi-kly 

Ivy  pastures  and 
fences  ami  in 

public  roads  ami 
sources.       ^  i> 

nies,  where  ui my 

inter  in  the  south- 
as  the  maviiime 

he   beginning  "' 
with  a  clear  ami 

,c  Canary,  tlv.n-h 
as  with  the  S""^ 
ider-tone  of  >  oii- 
arly  dawn,  aivl  i- 
lark,  when,  t-oni 


the   fence  of  some   clcvati'd 


321 


iKisturc-fic'ld,  in  th 


:"""'•;""■""■«•"">" -"K--S  have  ,v,;,:    : 

■  ni^s  .-,,,,,rr.„v.  „„„.■  tl,a„  „s„all).  >vak,-f„l,  „■„■,■ .  ,il>.,„,  ,'1,    , 

— -  -"«,  n,.ar  ,„  ,1,.  ,;,vu,i,c  ,,,.,.  whuv  |,„  ,„.„ 

"-'■l-«-.  ^...lHSsilnul,„„,  as, h.  la,,  ,,>.,,,-,,,,,,;;'    :'" 
";"-''   ;■■""'  "-■  ;'"*>•  i."n.,„,  „..  ,,..„  a-  ......a  e      ,:     ,     i 

.«,.,K..sl,L.„,l.,la,„lvara,l.a,,l,..  ,„, „„  ,;„:': '• 

•i-  M„„,k.,   n,„„,   ,,,„si„.,   I„„   a,,v,.al,,.   ,|i„;.        ■,,,,' 
'"'7'""' ■""■"■l,lH,l,a„ll,i.tos,; ran  al,.n,,l„.  .„■„„■„, 

"I  'lilsliil.t;  ,l„a„M.hvs  a,„l  l,a»ki„.,  i„  ,|,.,  ,,,„,,„  '■   '"'"' 

IVi"K  nearly  svdauary,  tl,.,v   ,-ai..   ,a„l,al,l,   „.„.al  ,„■ , 

"  'ic    MMS„„.     S„,„..„,n«  „.|,.„   s,a„,.,l    ,•„„„   ,1,,   „„,     „,, 
l.-,n:n.  s„,,„|a,cs   laauaK-ss   will,    ,v,„arkal,l,.   ,K,,„,,i„    „,   ,,, 

>"'l"»-       I  lie   y„„„R  a,v    ..a.ily   rai*d    IV,,,,,    ,|,,    „,„,   ,,„, 

"■™.  vn-,Ma,,,o,  ,:l.a,,,  a,,d   .l„,,,„,i,,   I,,,,   ,-„,|i|,     ;,,.,.^, 

wiih  each  other.  '     '''""-' 

'i'lK  •■  i:ay-\vinc:od  Uuntin- -  of  earlier  writus  w  ,.  ,nMu.l  ••  \- 
1- ^pamnv  •;  by  Wilson    Kla,,.  fron,  its  l,a!,i,  ^     ,;!::'  ,,,,:,: 
;;;;y--^n^.      ItI>ree<Isfronn-ir,iniaan<lK.u^ 


\"l,.  I.  _ 


^      .^>    ^"'  .0 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


IIM    12.5 


;•   IM    |||||Z2 
7   12.0 


1.8 


1.25      1.4 

1.6 

^ 6"     — 

► 

VI 


<^, 


el 


^ 


^^2' 


M. 


'/ 


/A 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14S80 

(716)  872-4503 


<ir. 


SONG   SPARROAV. 

jMeLOSPIZA    lASClA'lA. 

Char.  Back  streaked  with  black,  bay,  and  ash  ;  crown  bay,  streaked 
with  black  and  with  two  strijjcs  of  ash;  winys  grayisii  brown  edged  with 
dull  rufous,  tad  grayish  brown,  with  dark  wavy  Lri>ss-bars,  below,  whitt.: 
breast,  sides  of  throat,  and  sides  of  body  spotted  with  brown,  the  -put; 
forming  a  "  patch  "  on  the  breast.     Length  6  to  GYi  inches. 

^\1'.f/.  In  a  field  or  open  pasture,  amid  a  tuft  of  grass  or  under  a  jnu 
bush,  sometimes  fastened  to  bush  or  vine,  occasionally  placed  in  a  cavit 
in  a  tree  ;  composed  of  twigs,  grass,  roots,  and  leaves,  lined  with  ;;ra.v- 
and  roots,  or  hair. 

Aft'-'"-  .3-7  (usually  4  or  5) ;  dull  white  or  with  tint  of  green,  blue,  or 
pink,  thickly  marked  with  several  shades  of  brown  occasionally  u:.- 
spotted  ;  o.So  X  o  60. 

This  familiar  and  almost  domestic  bird  is  one  of  the  most 
common  and  numerous  Sjiarrows  in  the  United  States ;  it  i; 
also,  with  the  Bluebird,  which  it  seems  to  accompany,  one 
of  the   two   earliest,  sweetest,  and   most  enduring  waiulcrj, 


SONG   Sl'ARKUW. 


323 


Town  bay,  strcake 
]  bvoNvn  edged  u  ah 
Lis,  below,  Nvl"^^-' 
\h  broNVU,  the  ^V"^^ 

tchcs. 

trass  or  under  a  1"^^ 

V  placed  \n  a  cav.u 

Zl  lined  with  gva. 

L  of  green 


Ivn   occ 


•casionally  "'" 


L  oiie  of  the  m.>t 
Tiited  States  ;  it  i- 
,  rxccon^pany,  ov>^ 
pnduring  wai'^*^^^=' 


Though  many  pass  on  to  the  Southern  States  at  the  commence- 
iiK  nt  of  winter,  yet  a  few  seem  to  brave  the  colds  of  New 
luigland  as  long  as  the  snowy  waste  does  n<jt  conceal  their 
last  resource  of  nutriment.  When  the  inundating  storm  at 
Kii,L".li  arrives,  they  no  longer,  in  the  sheltering  swamps  and 
boiiUrs  of  bushy  streams,  si)end  their  time  in  gleaning  an  in- 
siitiic  ient  subsistence,  but  in  the  month  of  November  begin  to 
retire  to  the  warmer  States;  and  here,  on  fine  days,  even  in 
January,  whisper  forth  their  usual  strains.  As  early  as  the  4th 
of  March,  the  weather  being  mild,  the  Song  Si)arrow  and  the 
llliKhird  here  jointly  arrive,  and  cheer  the  yet  dreary  face  of 
Nature  with  their  fimiliar  songs.  The  latter  flits  restlessly 
thnuigh  the  orchard  or  neighboring  fieMs  ;  the  Sparrow,  more 
M)i  111.  freciuents  the  garden,  barn-yard,  or  road-side  in  quest 
uf  support,  and  from  th(?  top  of  some  humble  bush,  stake,  or 
taller  bough  tunes  forth  his  cheering  lay,  in  frequent  repetitions, 
for  half  an  hour  or  more  at  a  time.  These  notes  have  some 
rcscinblanc-^  to  parts  of  the  Canary's  song,  and  are  almost 
I'.niiUerrujJtL  i!y  :,\  •  tlaiiy  delivered,  from  his  coming  to  the 
commencement  oi  ^'inter.  When  the  birds  first  arrive,  while 
the  weather  is  yet  doubtful  aivl  unsettled,  the  strain  apjiears 
contemplative,  and  is  often  delivered  in  a  ])eculiarly  low  and 
tender  whisper,  which,  when  hearkened  to  for  sf)me  time,  will 
be  toiuid  more  than  usually  melotlious,  seeming  as  a  sort  of 
rcvery.  or  innate  hope  of  improving  seasons,  which  are  recalled 
with  a  grateful,  calm,  and  tender  delight.  At  the  approach  of 
f:  winter,  this  vocal  thrill,  sounding  like  an  Orphean  farewell  to 
ihe  s(  ene  and  season,  is  still  more  exquisite,  and  softened  by 
the  sadness  which  seems  to  breathe  almost  with  sentiment, 
from  the  decaying  and  now  silent  foce  of  Nature.  Our  song- 
ster, ne\er  remarkable  for  sprightliness,  as  the  spring  a.dvances 
(iehvei^  his  lay  louder  and  more  earnestly.  He  usaally  begins 
with  a  A//'  ts/i'  tslii'  k  fs/u/r  fslirfc,  and  blends  in  a  good  deal  of 
(liiveriug  notes.  Individuals  also  excel,  and  vary  their  song  from 
time  to  time  with  very  agreeable  effect ;  and  it  is  only  be(MUse 
our  tamiliar  vocalist  is  so  constantly  heard  and  seen  that  so  little 
►^^aliic  is  set  upon  his  agreeable,  cheerful,  and  faithful  perform- 


324 


SINGING    lilKUS. 


ante.  When  not  attached  to  the  ganlen,  our  Sparrow  seems 
fun<l  of  frequenting  low  bushy  meadows,  streams,  swamps,  and 
watery  •situations,  wliich  alTord  him  ready  shelter,  and  his  usual 
(i)tj*\  of  worms,  insects,  larvae,  and  seeds.  Such  situations  arc 
alsu  ihcir  favorite  resorts  when,  in  gregarious  and  miscellaneous 
flocks  with  other  congeneric  kinds,  they  are  seen  to  crowd  the 
sheltered  marshes  of  the  Southern  States.  'I'hey  are  also  com- 
monly seen  nimbly  running  along  the  ground,  and  gliding 
through  low  thickets  in  (juest  of  their  insect  fare  ;  and  in  fnit 
weather  they  du^^t  themselves,  and  bask  in  the  sun.  They  oftni 
likewi^.-  frefjuent  the  water,  being  fond  of  washing ;  and  some- 
tunes  are  seen  to  swim  across  small  streams,  particularly  when 
<!ii»abled  from  flying  by  a  gunshot  wound. 

The  nest  is  usually  formed  of  a  considerable  portion  of  fine 
<lr)'  grass  neatly  put  together,  and  mostly  lined  with  horse-hair. 
These  birds  are  very  prolific,  raising  as  many  as  three  bromi^ 
in  a  season,  the  young  being  occasionally  hatched,  in  the  Mid- 
<lle' States,  from  the  close  of  April  to  the  end  of  August,     liiiv 
are  very  solicitous  for  the  safety  of  their  young,  keeping  up  at 
this  tijne  often  a  tiresome  chirping  :  and  on  the  destruction  ol 
the  female  and  most  of  her  young,  I  have  known  the  remiin- 
ing  male,  with  unceasing  and  anxious  attention,  raise  a  solitary 
sur\'ivor  of  his  ruined  f;imily  with  the  most  devoted  affe(  lion. 
.\s  they  keep  the  young  and  their  habitation  so  very  clean,  am! 
are  so  prolific,  it  is  a  matter  of  surprise  that  they  do  not  ri- 
occupy  the  premises  ;  instances  are,  however,  not  wanting  in 
which  they  have  been  known  to  raise  two  broods  in  tlu  >,in; 
nest.     Hoth  parents  join  in  the  duty  of  incubation,  and  altir 
nately  feed  each  other  while  so  engaged. 

Tht.s  species  nests  from  South  Carolina  to  Lake  Mistassiiii.  ai. 
from  Centra!  Ohio  and  northern  Illinois  to  Lake  W'innipiL;.  i: 
arrives  at  .St.  John,  N.  15.,  during  the  second  week  in  .April  in  i" 
mensc  riocks.  and  is  usually  accompanied  by  similar  Hocks  c 
Robins  and  Jiincos.  Occasionally  a  few  winter  in  the  Mariti::. 
Frovinces  and  in  Quebec,  as  well  as  in  New  England. 


rol 
si\- 

m'iI 


SAVANNA   SrARRoW. 


3 -'5 


-arrow  seems 
swaiiip^'  ami 
awl  hi^  visual 
situation.;  arc 
misccUancous 
I  to  crowil  \.\\c 
arc  also  <  om- 
l,  and  gli'^ing 
-e  ;  and  in  tini 
i-i.     I'hey  t)fKn 
ng  ;  and  sonic- 
^rticularly  wlnn 

:  portion  ol"  tmc 
with  horse-hair, 
as  three  hiooiS 

bed,  in  the  Mul- 

of  August,    iii^y 

ig,  keeping  nj.  at 
;he  destruction  ot 
iiown  the  reinaiu- 
,n,  raise  a  soViiarv 
levoted  affedion. 
;o  very  clean,  :in>l 
they  do  not  n- 
■r,  not  waniiiv^iv. 
jrooils  in  the  >.inic 
Lbation,  and  lUn 

lake  Mistassini.  .v>. 


l-ikc  \Vinnil)>'4-  ' 
lock  in  April  i""- 
similar  tl.uks; 

ier  in  the  Mantir. 

liglaud. 


SAVANNA   Sl'AKkOW. 

GROUND   Sl'.\Kk(i\V. 
AM.M()I)K.\Mr,S    S.VXDWICIIKXSIS    SAVANNA. 

CliAK.  Above,  strcakud  with  grayish  brown,  black,  rufous,  and  grav  ; 
line  nvL-r  tlio  eyes  and  edges  of  wings  yellow;  crown  with  median  stripe 
of  Yellowish  white  ;  line  fmni  hiwcr  ni:uulil)lL'  yi  llowish  white  bunlLrcd 
bv  brown;  l)clow,  white  tinged  with  butf,  breast  and  siiles  streaked  with 
brown  and  black.     Length  5'i  ineiics. 

AV.>/.  In  a  salt-marsh  or  along  a  river  l)ank,  sonKtimes  in  a  dry 
iiilind  meadow,  concealed  by  tall  grass  (jr  tuft  of  weeds,  composed  nf 
grass,  sometimes  mi.xed  with  tine  roots,  and  (Kcasiunally  lined  with 
hurse-hair. 

A,v>'.  3-6 ;  variable  in  shape,  size,  and  markings,  usually  d'lll  wiiitc 
or  with  green  tint,  thickly  spotted  with  dark  brown,  rich  brown,  and 
lilac.  070  X  0.55 

This  Sparrow,  allied  to  the  preceding,  hut  fir  loss  familiar,  is 
(oimncjnly  scon  in  this  i)art  of  New-  l-jii^Mand  from  A])ril  to 
U(  loher,  migrating  towards  the  South  in  severe  weather,  ihoui^h 
maiiv  i)ass  the  whole  winter  in  the  Middle  States  In  (leorgia 
and  ^Vest  Florida  these  birds  are  rather  ntunerous  in  the  cold 
season,  migrating  in  cpiest  of  food  probably  from  the  ^\■est ; 
ami  the  whole  species  generally  show  a  predilection  for  the 
warm  and  sheltered  vicinage  of  the  sea,  where  the  seeds  and 
ii^ci  ts  they  feed  on  are  most  abtmdant.  On  their  first  arrival 
ill  Massachusetts  they  frequent  the  sandy  beaches  and  shores 
of  the  bays  in  quest  of  Ciciiuhiir  and  other  coleopterous 
iibe(  ts  which  frequent  such  situations;  and  they  are  at  this 
time  exceedingly  fat,  though  their  moult  is  not  yet  completed. 
In  summer  this  shy  and  timid  species  lives  wholly  in  ])astures 
or  L'riss  fields,  and  often  descends  to  the  ground  in  quest  of 
t'ooil.  Its  nest,  also  laid  in  the  grass  and  made  tjf  the  dry 
blades  of  the  same,  very  similar  to  that  of  the  Song  Siiarrow,  is 
usually  built  about  the  close  of  April. 

In  the  month  of  March,  in  (ieor^ii.  I  oliser\ed  these  S|iar- 
ri»\\s  ill  the  open  grassy  jjine  woo<ls  on  the  niar:j;ins  of  stnall 
swamps  or  "  galls."  At  times  they  utter  a  note  almost  exactly 
simil.ir  to  the  chirpings  of  a  cricket,  so  that  it  miiiht  be  easily 
mistaken   for  that   insect.      .\t   other  times  thev   utter   a   few 


326 


siN(.;i\(;  iJikDs. 


plca^iint  notes  somewhat  similar  to  the  song  of  the  Song  Spar- 
row, hut  sufticiently  distinct. 

The  Savanna  Sparrow  breeds  i^orc  abundantly  alon^'  the  Ki.ist 
of  .MassacinisL'tts  than  in  the  interior,  and  jKrliaps  this  may  apply 
to  all  localilius  ;  hut  the  opinion  expressed  by  many  writers  tii.it  it 
is  almost  exelusively  a  bird  of  the  sea-sliore — of  the  salt-mar>lKs 
—  is  far  from  eorreet.  I  traced  it  up  the  valley  of  the  St.  John  a>  i,u 
as  there  were  cleared  fields  or  marshy  meadows,  and  in  no  locality 
was  it  more  abundant  than  at  Fort  Kent,  — the  most  northern  point 
of  Maine.     It  occurs  throughout  the  southern  portions  of  Canada. 

The.se  birds  are  rarely  seen  off  the  ground;  an  occasional  ptich 
on  a  stone  heap  or  a  fence  being  the  only  deviation  from  this  rulu. 


IPSWICH    Sl'.ARRUW. 

A.MMODRA.MUS    I'klNCKPS. 

.  Char.  General  apjicarancc  of  a  large  pale  Savanna  Sparrow.  Aliove. 
grayisl)  Ijrown.cach  t'catlicr  streaked  with  I)lack  and  rufous  ;  crown  >tri|)i 
dull  buff  or  buffy  white  ;  stripe  over  eyes  similar  hut  jjaler ;  wings  bhicl; 
ish  bnnvn,  edged  witli  rufous  ;  tail  lilackish  brown  tipped  with  wliiic, 
beneath,  dull  white  tinged  with  buff;  chest  and  sides  streaked  with 
brown.  Length  6  to  6I4  inches. 
.Vt's/  and  A^i^s.     Unknown. 

This  interesting  bird  was  first  described  by  Mr.  C.  J.  Maynar! 
from  a  specimen  taken  l)y  him  at  Ipswich,  .Mass.,  in  1868.     \-\<: 
two  years  the  type  remained  unicpic,  and  for  .several  years  later  t'e 
species  was  supposed  to  be  rare.     It  has  since  been  found  all  aid! 
the  Atlantic  coast  from  ("icorijia  to  the  (iulf  of  St.  Lawrence, 
usually  frequents  the  sea-shore  or  salt-meadows  near  by,  though  .Mr 
N.  C.  Hrown  reports  that  he  has  seen  it  at  Lake  Umbagog,  in': 
interior  of  Maine.     I  met  with  it  in  New  Brunswick  only  for  a  t\ 
days  diu-ing  the  early  spring;    its  breeding  place  is  farther  tKirv 
When  feeding  on  the  sandy  shore  in  company  with  other  Spam- 
(the  snow  still  covered  the  fields),  it  was  not  difficult  to  distinu'i;  ■ 
the   Ipswich  from  their  congeners,  but  it  is  difllcidt  to  define: 
distinguishing  characteristics. 

A  nest  and  eggs  supposed  to  he  of  this  species  are  in  the  Natiiv 
Museum  at  Washington.     They  were  taken  on  Sable  Lsland.  ' 
the  coast  of  Nova  Scotia:  but  the  identificatioii  is  too  doubtt'u!: 
permit  of  their  being  accepted  without  cpiestion.     The  nest  a 
eggs  are  described  as  similar  to  those  of  the  Savanna  S])in 
the  eggs  being  somewhat  larger. 


\c  Song  S\>ar- 


^\on'A  the  coa^l 
this  m;vy  J^l'l'b' 
y  writers  tU.u  ii 
he  saU-niav>lKs 
eSt.Johna>l.u 
ul  in  no  h)^aliiy 
it  norlhern  poim 
ions  o{  CanacUi. 
occasional  inich 
n  from  this  rule. 


u  Sparrow.    M^''^'^' 
rufous;  crown  Mvn. 

,  'tipped  with  whue; 
sides  streaked  vvn;> 


Mr.  C.  J.  Maynav. 
,lass.,miS68       - 
vcral  years  laU^;- 
i,een  found  all  .a.'  - 
[{  St   Lawrence    i 
near  by,  though  M' 
kc  Umbagog,  m;: 
swick  only  for  a  t.^ 
ICO  is  farther  nor. 
[with  other  Span-.- 
LricuUtodistnv^v.- 

lifticult  to  define 


..areintheNat.v 
ion  Sable  Island. 


is  too  doublUil'l 
tion.  The  ne^t  x^ 
^  Savanna  Sp.ui"^ 


BACHMAN'S   SPARROW. 

slmmkk  finch. 
Peuc^:a  /V.s'iiv.\i,is  hachmanii. 

Char.  Above,  rufous  streaked  with  l)lack  and  ash;  lines  over  the 
LVLS  ash;  edge  of  wing  yeUow  ;  below,  buff,  .sides  shaded  with  ash,  breast 
with  hrown.     Length  G'^.  inches. 

.\<v/.  In  open  gr.assy  woodland,  lialf-cleaied  field,  or  old  meadow; 
jilaced  on  the  ground  ;  made  of  dry  grass  or  mixed  with  r<ii)ts  ;  sometimes 
the  top  is  roofed,  the  entrance  at  tlie  side. 

/yCA'S-    4-5  ;  white  ;  0.75  X  0.60. 

This  interesting  species  was  first  made  known  to  .Andnhon 
l)y  Dr.  l)achman,  who  foinid  it  near  tlie  lulisto  River,  and 
afterwards  breeding  in  the  vicinity  of  Charleston,  South  Caro- 
lina, in  the  pine  barrens.  The  discoverer  remarks  of  this 
bird:  "When  1  first  heard  its  notes  they  so  nearly  resembled 
those  of  the  Towee  Unnting  that  I  took  it  to  be  that  bird.  .\s 
soon  as  it  is  seen  in  the  tall  pine-trees  where  it  usually  sits  to 
uublc  out  its  melodious  notes,  it  darts  down  and  conceals 
iNrlf  in  the  rank  grass,  through  which  it  runs  off  like  a  mouse, 
.  nd  is  tliished  with  difficulty."  It  is  bidievt'd  to  breed  on  the 
urmind.  It  is  said  to  be  the  finest  scjngUcr  of  the  Sparrow 
tamily  in  the  United  States.  Its  notes  are  loud  for  the  si/e  of 
tile  bird,  and  heard  nearly  alone  in  the  region  it  freriuents. 
Aliout  the  month  of  November  it  ])roceeds  to  migrate  farther 
^tiinh.  though  a  few  stragglers  still  remain  throughout  the 
winter.  .According  to  Latham,  its  nest  is  usually  on  the  ground 
among  the  grass,  under  small  bushes;   it  is  composed  of  dry 


■■"il'IIJIIUIWIIjjiiil  I.  mf 


3-^8 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


grass  lor  the  iiKJst  l)arl,  and  the  ct,'gs  arc  dusky  white.  lit 
alscj  adds  that  these  birds  i;  habit  (leorgia  the  whole  year, 
freciuenting  fences,  brushwood,  and  thici<ets. 

Some  years  ago  in  (leorgia  in  the  month  of  March  I  ob 
served  these  Sparrows  in  the  ojien  grassy  pine  woods,  on  tin 
margins  of  small  swami)s  or  galls.     On  being  suddenly   sur 
prised,  they  often  llew  off  a  little  distance,  and  then,  if  follows  1, 
descended  to  the  ground,  and  ran  and  hiel  closely  in  the  tall 
tufts  of  grass. 

Their  notes  at  this  time  were  very  long,  piping,  and  cK  - 
vated,  and  resembling  often  /s/u-  A////  /s/i//>  tship  tship  tship 
tship,  then  tsJic  ch'  tsW  tsW  ts'h  ts'h.  Some  of  these  notes  were 
as  fine  and  lively  as  those  of  the  Canary,  —  loud,  echoing,  and 
cheerful. 

'I'he  food  of  this  species  consists  of  grass  seeds,  coleoptera, 
and  a  variety  of  small  berries  as  they  come  in  season,  'liit' 
sexes  are  nearly  alike  in  plumage. 

Tills  species  occurs  in  the  (lulf  States  and  north  to  South  Caro- 
lina and  soutluTn  Illinois,  but  the  vitinity  of  Charleston,  S.  C  > 
the  only  locality  in  which  it  has  been  found  in  abundance.  Wry 
little  is  known  of  its  habits  or  of  its  distr'.bution. 


XoTi:.  —  The  type  of  tliis  species  is  larger  and  darker  thin 
bachiiuDiii.  It  is  restricted  to  southern  Cieorgia  and  Florida,  ami 
has  been  named  the  Pine  Woous  Si'Akkow  {^Pcuava  ccstivalis^ 


LIXCDl.NS   SPARROW. 

LINCOLN'S    riNCIL 

Mi;i,(>SI'l/.\    I.IN(  niNl. 

Char.  Above,  sircakcil  with  liruwii,  gray,  and  black;  below,  wliitt; 
band  across  the  breast  and  on  sides  brownish  yellow.  Length  a'  "i' 
5/-3  inches. 

Xcst.  On  the  groinid,  amid  low  bushes,  along  the  skirts  of  niai-i' 
meadow,  or  on  a  dry  grassy  hillock  in  an  open  woodland:  conipoM(!  "t 
grass. 

E:^i:s.  4-5;  pale  green  or  Iniftish,  —  sometimes  almost  white,  —  \\\:k\C\ 
spotted  and  blotched  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac  ;  o.So  X  0.60. 


GRASSIIOIM'KR   STAKKOW. 


3^9 


white.     ^^^' 
whole   year, 

March  1  »>\' 
•coas,  on  Ih^ 
ucUlenly   sur 
,^,  if  foUowea. 


ely  "^ 


the  lall 


ping,  i^«^^  ^'^'" 
////-  ts/uY'  is /up 
^ese  notes  were 
i,  echoing,  ^i^^ 

:cds,  coleorlera, 
n  season,    'l'^^^ 


to  South  ear- 


th 

v.irkston, 

.i\)undancc. 


s.  c. 


The  habits  of  this  horcal  spfcii's,  iliscovi'ix'd  hv  Auduhdii  in 
Labrador,  are  very  siniilar  to  those  of  die  Soml;  Sparrow.  I, ike 
ii,  luounted  on  the  topmost  twig  of  some  tree  or  tall  >,hMib,  it 
(haiits  fur  hours  together;  or,  (hving  into  the  tlii(  ket,  it  ho])s 
from  branch  to  branch  imtil  it  readies  the  ground  in  tiuest  of 
it>  tisiial  fare  of  insects  and  berries.  It  moves  off  swiftly  when 
watched,  and  if  forced  to  take  wing  tlies  low  and  with  rapidity 
1(1  some  consideral)le  (Ustance.  It  is  met  with  usually  near 
streams,  in  the  sheltered  valleys  of  that  colil  and  desolate 
r^u'ion.  liy  the  4th  of  July  the  young  had  left  tiie  nest,  and  in 
August  they  had  begun  their  migrations  to  the  South.  Speci- 
mens have  been  obtained  by  Mr.  W.  Cooper  near  New  \  ork 
(ity, 

Lincoln's  Finch  is  now  considered  less  ••  boreal  "'  in  its  distrihu- 
tinii  tlian  Xutlall  and  his  contemporaries  supposed,  tor  thou-h  it 
li.is  l)eei\  I'ouiul  in  Labrador  and  in  the  liigli  An  lie  reL;ions  ol  the 
Wist,  yet  nests  have  l»ccn  discovered  in  Xova  Scotia,  northern 
New  ^'ork.  and  Wisconsin,  as  well  as  on  the  liiglur  mountains  (if 
tlir  West  down  nearly  to  the  Mexican  border,  it  is  a  rare  Ijird 
Hear  tlie  Atlantic,  but  is  abundant  along  the  Mississippi  valley. 


\\iy 


and  darker  dun 
.,nd  Florida,  ami 


^Uck;helo^v.wbitc; 
lu„w.     Length  .>•"■ 

Itbe  skirt,  of  n-v^:^ 
loaiand;  conip--> 

Iniost  white, -tl-^k^y 
o.So  X  0.60. 


GR.ASSIIOIM'KR   SIWRROW. 

VI.l.LOW  WIXGF.D   SI'AKKDW.     VEI.I.OW-WIXCKn    liUNTI.NG. 
.Am.MOORAMI'S    SAVANNARIM     r\>^tRIM->. 

•  iiAR.  Above,  streaked  with  lav,  black,  Initf,  ami  a-li ;  cmwii  Mack- 
i^li.with  median  line  of  i)iitY;  lines  over  tlic  eve  bulT,  lieiul  nf  wIdl;  lui^lit 
\\l'  >\\  :  below,  buff,  shading  to  wliite  on  tliv  iiellv.  Lvni^tii  al'Diit  5 
incln  ^. 

.W  A  Tn  a  field,  concealed  bv  loni;  grass;  comiioscd  of  grass,  lined 
with  liorsc-hair. 

/•',;>■•     4-5  :  white,  spoiled  willi  :  •  :h  i)ro\vn  and  lilac  ;  0.75  X  oC)0. 

This  small  Sparrow  is  a  sumnur  resident  in  the  I'nited 
States,  in  the  (bstant  territory  of  the  Ort-gon.  and  is  likewise, 
arronling  to  Sloane,  a  common  species  in  the  savannas  or 
open  glades  of  the  island  of  Jamaica.  I'rom  what  little  is 
known  of  it  as  a  bird   of  the    United  States,  it    ajijjcars    to 


330 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


remain  in  the  sheltered  plains  of  the  sea-coast  of  New  York 
and  New  Jersey  until  the  very  commencement  of  winter.  Il  i> 
also  observed  in  the  lower  parts  of  i'ennsylvania  ;  and  about  the 
middle  of  May,  or  later,  they  are  occasionally  seen  in  the  gar- 
dens in  Camhriiige,  Mass.,  on  their  way  ai)parently  to  sonn' 
other  breeding-station.  On  these  occasions  they  perch  in 
sheltered  trees  in  pairs,  and  sing  in  an  agreeable  voice  sonu- 
what  like  that  of  the  I'urple  Kinch,  tiiough  less  vigorously,  in 
the  West  Indies  they  live  much  on  the  ground,  and  run  like 
Larks,  Hying  low  when  flushed,  and  soon  alighting.  Their  nesl 
is  likewise  fixed  on  the  ground,  among  the  grass,  where  they 
collect  their  usual  fare  of  seeds  and  insects. 

The  majority  of  local  students  of  bird  life  to-day  consider  this 
species  more  or  less  common  in  Massacliusetts  and  Connecticut, 
and  it  is  known  to  occur  in  parts  of  the  more  northern  New  Kni; 
land  States,  and  in  New  York,  Ohio,  Ontario,  and  Michigan.  One 
e.\ami)le  has  been  taken  in  New  Brunswick.  Its  supposed  rarity 
by-  earlier  oI)servers  was  i)r()l)ably  due  to  its  usual  conccalnuiU 
amid  the  tall  grass  and  to  its  lack  of  an  attractive  song;  for  in  spite 
of  NuttalTs  assurance  to  the  contrary,  modern  observers  have  in- 
dorsed tlie  oj^inion  expressed  by  one  of  tlieir  leaders  that  "  its  best 
vocalization  is  scarcely  stronger  or  more  musi<  al  than  the  stridiihi- 
tion  of  a  grasshopper." 


HEXSI.O\Y'S   SPARRONY. 

IIENSLOWS    nUNTING. 
.XmMODRANU'S    IIINSt.OWII. 

f  IIAR.  Above,  streaked  with  olive  brown,  bay,  and  gray  ;  crown  cine 
gray,  with  two  blackish  stripes;  edge  of  wing  yellow;  below,  btilT,  pakr 
on  throat  and  belly ;  sides  of  throat  and  sides  of  body  streakctl  witli 
black.     Length  about  5  inches. 

A'rs/.  In  a  field,  concealed  amid  long  gr.ass ;  made  of  grass  with  ;i 
lining  of  hair. 

E^i,X^.  4-5;  dull  white,  sometimes  tinged  with  green,  spotted  wit''. 
brown  and  lilae  ;  0.75  X  0.60. 

This  s])ecies,  so  much  allied  to  the  Yellow-winged  Finch 
discovered  by  Audubon,  is  known  to  breed   in   New  Jcisey. 


St  of  New  York 
of  winter,  Ii  i^ 
, ;  and  about  tlic 
,een  in  the  gnr- 
arently  to  sonic 

they  perch  in 
ible  voice  sonu- 

vigorously.  In 
1(1,  and  run  Hko 
ting.  Their  nest 
rass,  where  thiy 


'-"  t°-^"'-E's  M.ARKOW. 


As  a  winter  bini  or  ,,;,„,,,,  :,  ■  '  ^^' 

•••"•I  -•■'l"ally  ab„„,l.„,  in'-.h"  ;;'7"""'  m  .s„„„,  c-,ru,i,„, 

'"<  ';>■  .-hoicc  the  light   s,-,„,r' i     '■*  "'  '■'""'1^'.  »-"<in; 
"";■«>  "  keeps  „n  ,|,e  ^,,^1  Z„  "'"^'^"""  "'">    P'n-t 

"fa  mouse.  ="  ""•  «"•>»  wuh  the  „i,„I,le,H;s 

'""'''  tl,an  near  tl,c  Atlantic  sc^a^u.     '"'"'"  "'"'>^^"'  '"  the 


day  consider  tliis 
and  Connecticut, 
irtliern  New  Kiii; 
1  Miciiijran.  One 
ts  supposed  rarity 
isual  conccaliniiil 
L'  son,i^ ;  for  in  spite 
olisorvcrs  have  in- 
Icrs  tliat  ■•  its  l)L.st 
than  the  stridula- 


ndgray :  crown  i'!ive 
w;  below,  buff.  I'l'^r 
■  body  streaUctl  with 

lade  of  grass  wuli  ^ 

green,  spotted  wit''. 

low- winged  I'inch 
•d   in   New  Jersey. 


IE   CON TK's  SI'.XkKoU'. 

LE  COXTKs  „i;XT/No. 

'^"AR.     General  col 


n'sh  and  ,,f  |,i.,c|^ 


•^I'lLc  then  the  species  h-,«  K        /   '~^''*niAtsf,n  thv  /;.,knf-.  ,  i  • 

-"-•'•S  etc.,  to  SoTnh  C^rolin    '  fr;?"  ""^"^''>    '"inoi.s      ;?;: ' 
a  rare  '>ird.  -  Rid^eu-av  tMnk  '  t  '  "''''•^-     ^^  -  f-"  "on";' 

! ,'  ''^  overlooked.  '^*-'''"^*  ^^^^  doubtless  caii.sed 

l''e  I)irds  resemble  Henslnw'.  c 
.^•' ^I^^'cies  arc  similar.     OnK  on   ^^''''"^'- ^"^^  '^^  LaMts  of  ,he 


TRi:i:    SPARROW. 

Sl'IZKI.I  A    MONTROI.A. 

Ch\r.  Above,  streaked  with  l)lack,  bay.  and  buff;  rrowii  clKstmit, 
soinctiiiics  tlie  ftailicis  tiij^ed  witli  asliy  ;  sides  of  lieatl  ami  neck  asliy  , 
line  Oom  beiiind  eyes  chestnut  ;  \vini;s  witli  two  wliite  bars;  edges  of  tail- 
fcatiiers  wiiite  ;  below,  dull  white,  breast  and  tiiroat  tin:;ed  with  ash  ;  spot 
of  brown  on  the  breast;  Hanks  shaded  with  brown.     Length  ^1*4  inches. 

Nist.  (Jn  the  ground  or  in  a  low  bush  ;  made  of  grass,  twigs,  ami 
roots.  —  sometimes  cemented  with  mud,  —  lined  witli  hair  or  fiatlieis. 

A;%''  4-5;  pale  green  or  greenish  blue,  spotted  witiireddish  l)rown  ; 
0.75  X  0.60. 

This  handsome  winter  Sparrow  arrives  from  the  northern 
regions  in  New  ICngland  about  the  close  of  October,  withcb'aw- 
ing  from  Hudson  IJay  and  the  neighl)oring  countries  some- 
time in  the  month  of  September.  The  species  conseciuently, 
like  many  more  of  our  Fn'//i;i7/tis,  only  measures  its  s])eed  by 
the  resources  of  subsistence  it  is  able  to  obtain,  and  thus 
straggling  southward  as  the  winter  advances,  it  enters  Pennsyl- 
vania only  about  the  beginning  of  November;  there,  as  well  :i> 
in  the  maritime  jiarts  of  Massachusetts,  and  perhaps  as  fir 
south  as  Virginia,  tlie  Tree  Sparrow  is  often  associated  with 
the  hardy  Snow  Hirds,  gleaning  a  similar  kind  of  subsistence: 
and  when  the  severity  of  winter  commences,  leaving  the  wooils. 
gardens,  and  uplands  in  which  it  is  an  occasional  visitor,  it 
seeks  in  company  the  shelter  of  some  bushy  swamp,  thi(  kly 
shaded  brook,  or  spring.     Near  Fresh  Pond,  in  this  vicinity, 


Clill'l'INCi   srAKKuW. 


'    ^   3 


a  ami  neck  a^hy  , 

:,,gih  r,>^  inches. 
[  grass,  Uv>^s.  ^uul 
ai'v  or  {catlKMS. 
ith  vciUlish  \>rowu  , 

m  the   northern 
o\)or,  with(\r;i\v- 

onntrios  sonn- 
;s  consecincntlv, 
.-OS  its  speed  I'V 
Attain,  and  thus 

enters  I'ennsyl- 

there,  as  weh  ;'> 
1  perhaps  as  t,.r 
associated  with 

;\  of  subsistence ; 

aving  the  woo*l^. 

asional  visitor.  U 

X  swamp,  thukly 
in  this  viciniiy 


these  birds  are  at  that  reason  niuneroiis,  and  roost  t(ij,'itlu  r 
near  the  marnin  of  the  reeds,  ahnost  in  the  society  of  the 
Illackbirds,  who  seek  out  a  similar  place  ol  warnuh  and  shelter 
as  the  (hilling  frosts  begin  to  prevail. 

At  this  (:o(j1  and  gloomy  season,  and  down  to  the  elo-,e  oi' 
the  first  week  in  Novend;er,  as  they  pass  tVom  hraiK  li  to 
branch  and  play  capriciously  round  each  other,  they  keep  up 
almost  perpetually  a  low  and  pleasant  liipiid  warble,  not  nuu  h 
unlike  that  of  the  Yellow  llinl  (/''n'/ii^/VAi  fris/is),  but  less 
varied.  Sometimes  two  or  three  at  the  same  time  will  time  up 
s'aHft/it  s'h'fi'i/i/  'n'Cit,  w\\\.\  s'uHiiiUt  s' t^'aiilit  Wtt  t,  accompanied 
by  some  tremulous  trilling  and  variation,  whi(  h,  though  rather 
sad  and  (pierulous,  is  heard  at  this  silent  season  with  peculiar 
delight.  In  summer,  during  the  breeding-time,  they  e.xpress 
eonsiderable  melody. 

According  to  Mr.  Hutchins  they  breed  around  the  Hudson 
I'.ay  settlements,  making  a  nest  in  the  hirbage,  formed  i\ier- 
iially  of  dry  grass,  and  lined  with  soft  hair  or  down,  probably 
fimn  vegetables,  in  the  manner  of  the  N'ellow  IJini.  About  the 
hrginning  of  April  they  leave  the  Middle  States  for  their  sum- 
mer ([uarters,  and  arrive  around  Severn  River  in  May  ;  they 
also  probably  pro])agate  in  Newfoundland,  where  tiny  hive 
been  observed.  With  us  they  are  still  si'en  in  ntuubers  to  the 
i<)th  of  April. 

Numbers  of  the  Tree  Sjiarrow  winter  regularly  in  tlic  Maritime 
I'nnincos  of  Canada.  Maeoun  repoits  the  species  eommon  in 
siiiniiK'r  at  Lake  Mistassini,  which  lies  a  liille  to  the  soutluvarcl  of 
1  bulson  Bay. 


CHIPPINd    SPARROW. 

CHIPPY.     IIAIR-P.IKI). 

Sl'lZKI.I.A    SOllAI.IS. 

Char.  Above,  stna,.L'd  with  gravi>li  brown,  l)lnck,  and  bay  ;  crown 
(liL>iiiut;  forehead  black  ;  sides  of  head  and  neck  ashy  ;  dull  white  line 
iivtreyes;  dusky  stripe  from  bUi  through  e\es;  tail  forked  and  dusky 
with  pale  edgings  ;  wings  with  two  wliite  bars ;  hclow,  dull  white,  tinged 
with  ash  on  breast  and  sides.     Length  about  5'j  inches. 


1    ." 


334 


SINGING   IJIRDS. 


A'isf.  Id  a  pasture,  orchard,  or  garden,  iilaccd  in  a  bush  or  low  tree; 
tonii'isetl  of  grass,  —  honielinics  mixed  with  roots, —  thickly  lined  with 
horse  iiair. 

/iX:v-''-  4-5;  bluish  green,  spotteel,  chielly  about  the  larger  end,  willi 
Ijrown,  black,  and  lilac;  0.70  X  0.50. 

'J  his  si)c<ic's,  with  the  Song  Sparrow,  is  probably  the  most 
ntiiiKnnis,  coiiiinon,  and  lamiHar  bird  in  the  L'nited  Stales, 
inhabiting  from  Nova  Seotia  to  Florida,  westward  to  the  banks 
of  the  Missotiri,  and  Mr.  Townsend  found  it  to  be  a  common 
species  in  the  Territory  of  Oregon,  Aware  of  the  many  para- 
sitic enemies  of  'he  feathered  race  which  it  has  to  encoimter, 
who  prowl  incessantly,  and  particularly  in  (juest  of  its  eggs,  it 
approaches  almost  instinctively  the  i)recincts  of  houses,  barns, 
and  stables,  ami  frequently  ventures  into  the  centre  of  the 
noisy  and  bustling  city,  to  seek  in  the  cultivated  court  an 
asylum  for  its  exjiected  jjrogeny.  Soon  sensible  of  favor  or 
immunity,  it  often  occtijjies  with  its  nest  the  thick  shrubs  of 
the  garden  within  a  few  yards  of  the  neighboring  habitation, 
by  the  sitle  perhaps  of  a  frequented  walk,  in  the  low  rose-l)UMh. 
the  lilac,  or  any  other  familiar  jjlant  affoiding  any  degree  of 
shelter  or  security,  and  will  at  times  regularly  visit  the  thresh- 
old, the  ])ia/,/a,  or  farm-yard  for  the  crumbs  which  intention 
or  accident  may  afford  it.  On  other  occasions  the  orchard 
trees  are  chosen  for  its  habitation,  or  in  the  lonely  woods  an 
evergreen,  cedar,  or  fir  is  selected  for  the  pitrpose.  It  makers 
no  pretensions  to  song,  but  merely  chips  in  conqdaint  when 
molested,  or  mounting  the  low  boughs  of  some  orchard  tree  01 
shrtib,  utters  a  (piickly  articulated  ascending  '/s/i  '/s/i  '/s/i  'A' 
'/j7/  is/if  /s/ic,  almost  like  the  jingling  of  farthings,  and  a  littK 
resembling  the  faint  warble  t)f  the  Canary,  but  without  any  d 
its  variety  or  loudness.  This  note,  such  as  it  is,  is  continncii 
often  for  half  an  hour  at  a  time,  but  is  little  louder  than  tin 
chir])ing  of  a  cricket,  and  tittered  by  the  male  while  attending, 
his  brooding  mate.  I"'or  many  weeks  through  the  summer  and 
during  fine  weather  this  note  is  often  given  from  time  to  timr 
in  the  night,  like  the  revery  of  a  dream. 

The  nest  of  the  ("hip]iing  l>ird  varies  sometimes  consider- 
ably  in   its   materials   and   composition.     'I'he   external    layer. 


CIlll'l'INC;    SrARROW, 


335 


)r  low  tVLt.' ; 
lined  with 

:r  cml,  witii 

;  the  must 
cil   Stales, 
the  banks 
a  comniou 
iiany  para- 
cncounter, 
its  eggs,  il 
uses,  barns, 
litre   of  ihe 
;1   court    an 
of  favor  or 
k  shrubs  ut 
;  habitatujn. 
w  rose-bush, 
ly  degree  ot 
the  thresh- 
h  intentlnu 
the  orchanl 
ly  woods  an 
It  niake^ 
iiplaint  when 
hard  tree  or 
/s/i  '/s/i  'A/.' 
and  a  htiU 
ilhout  any  oi 
lis  eonlinueil 
Icr  than  Uh- 
Ic  attemhns^ 
siniinier  ami 
ime  to  time 


seldom  so  thick  but  that  it  may  be  readily  seen  through,  is 
(oniposed  of  dry  stalks  of  withered  grass,  and  lined  more  or 
lc>->  with  horse  or  cow  hair.  The  Cuckoo  destroys  many  eggs 
of  this  timid,  harmless,  and  sociable  little  bird,  as  the  nests  are 
ic.ulily  discovered  and  numerous;  on  such  occasions  tlie  little 
sufferer  expresses  great  and  unusual  anxiety  for  the  security  of 
her  charge,  anil  after  being  repeatetlly  robbed,  the  female  sits 
cloMcly  sometimes  upon  perhaps  only  two  eggs,  desirous  at  any 
rate  to  escape  if  i)o.--sible  with  some  of  her  little  t)ffs])ring.  Two 
or  more  broods  are  r.iised  in  the  season. 

'I'owards  the  close  of  summer  th.e  parents  and  their  brood 
are  seen  busily  engaged  collecting  seeds  and  insects  in  the 
neighboring  fields  and  lanes,  and  now  bectjuie  so  numerous,  as 
tlic  autumn  advances,  that  Ibtling  before  the  path  on  either 
side  as  the  passenger  proceeds,  tliey  almost  resemble  the 
failing  leaves  of  the  season  rustling  before  the  cheerless  blast  ; 
an  1  thially,  as  their  food  fails  ;ind  the  fir^t  snows  begin  to 
appear,  advertised  of  tlie  llireatening  funine,  they  disajipear 
and  winter  in  the  Southern  States.  In  the  month  of  January, 
in  (leorgia,  during  the  continuance  of  the  cool  weather  and 
fin^ty  nights,  I  freipiently  heard  at  dusk  a  confused  chirping  or 
piping  like  that  of  frogs,  am'  at  lengtii  dii.M.overed  the  noi>e  to 
proceed  from  dense  llocks  of  the  Chipping  Sjjarrows  roosting 
or  huddling  near  together  in  a  pile  of  thick  brush,  where,  willi 
the  Song  Sparrow  also,  they  find  means  to  i)ass  the  cool 
ni-hls.  The  Chipping  Sparrow  (ic(  iirs  throughout  the  Mari- 
time Provinces  and  westward  to  the  Roi  kie^  and  noriiuvanl  to 
tile  ( Ireat  Slave  J.ake  region.  It  is  abundant  in  (^uebe<'  and 
Ontario. 

XoTi:.  —  One  exaniple  of  Uki.wik's  Si'Akiuiw  (S/>/:r//ii 
/>>:  :,;■>■/).  a  bird  that  dwells  chicflv  on  the  western  slo|)es  ol'  the 
iv  ekies,  has  been  taken  in  Massaeiui^eiis. 


_'S  consider- 
lerncd   layer. 


^''kt^^f^. 


yj^,?;:i.'i"ai^T?r-?.!'jw^'jAi'ajjiiijB.'iia 


336 


SINdINX;    BIRDS. 


FII-LD    SPARROW. 

Sl'IilKLLV    I'USIM.A. 

("IIAK.  Above,  strcnktcl  rufous,  l)lack,  and  I)uff;  crown  chestnut,  witli 
ol-isnuc  median  liiiu  ut  ash  ;  liind  neck,  sides  ot  liuad  and  neck  a.-li ;  cIki.  k 
shaded  witli  brown;  wings  witli  two  wliitc  bars;  below,  white  ;  breast  aiul 
throat  tinged  with  yellow.     I.ength  5*4  inches. 

AV.i/.  In  a  field,  jiasturc,  or  (jpen  woodland,  amid  a  tuft  of  urass  or  in 
a  tangled  thicket,  sometimes  placeil  on  a  low  liii>h  or  vine;  composed  of 
grass,  twigs,  and  straw,  lined  with  hair,  tine  roots,  or  fur. 

^'■:-:^'^-  3~5'y  '!""  \\hiie  or  with  buff  or  green  lint,  usually  thickly  spotted 
with  reildish  brown;  0.70  X  055. 

'I'hc  Small  Hrown  Spariuw  arrives  in  Pennsylvania  and  New 
Knglantl  itom  the  Southern  States,  where  it  passes  the  winter, 
in  the  beginning  of  Aijril.  It  is  with  us  a  shy,  wild,  and  retir- 
ing si)ecies,  ])artial  to  dry  hills  and  pastures,  and  open,  l)iisli\, 
secluded  woods,  living  nitich  in  trees.  In  autumn,  indeed,  the 
pair,  accompanied  by  their  brood,  in  small  lliiting  llocks  lea\c 
their  native  wilds,  antl  glean  at  times  in  the  garden  or  orchard  ; 
yet  but  little  is  now  seen  of  them,  as  they  only  approach  culti- 
vated grounds  a  few  weeks  before  their  departure.  The-i- 
Sparrows,  if  indeed  they  are  the  same  as  those  described  by 
Wilson,  in  winter  tlock  together  in  great  numbers  in  the 
Southern  States,  and  mingling  with  the  Chipping  Birds  and 
other  species,  they  now  line  the  roads,  fences,  and  straggling' 
bushes  near  the  ])lantations  in  such  numbers  as,  witii  ihnr 
sober  and  brown  livery,  to  resemble  almost  a  shower  of  rii-^t- 
ling  and  falling  leaves,  continually  haunting  the  advancing 
steps  of  the  traveller  in  hungry,  active  tlocks,  driven  by  the 
storms  of  winter  into  this  temporary  and  irksome  exile,  lint 
no  sooner  does  the  return  of  early  si)ring  arrive  than  the\  ilit 
entirely  from  the  Southern  wilds  to  disperse  in  pairs  and  seek 
out  again  their  favorite  natal  regions  of  the  North. 

Our  little  bird  has  a  pretty  loud  and  shrill  note,  which  may 
be  heard  at  a  considerable  distance,  and  possesses  some  variety 
of  tone  and  expression.  Sometimes  it  is  something  like  /.'.r 
fiC'cf  ttcidi,  tij  ^tto  'tio  7<\'  Vri'  7u'   'f-n>,  beginning  loud  md 


FIELD    SPARROW. 


1   •>  V 


1  chefitnut.  with 
ucck  ;i>h  ;  cIk.  k 

,{t  of  ;-,»•;»>  ov  in 
le;  coini)oscd  ol 

ly  ihickly  spotted 

vanui  anvl  N-^'^^' 
SSL'S  the  wiuur, 
wild,  and  rcUi- 
ad  open,  \)ushv, 
mn,  indeed,  ihc 
ting  llocks  leave 
■den  ov  orchard  ; 
ap\)roach  cuUi- 
parture.     'I'l^^-"' 
)se  describeil  \iy 
mnnbers    in   di^ 
,ping  iVnds  ana 
,s,  and  straiii^li'V 
;s  as,  Nvitb  dull 
shower  of  ru-^t- 
ihe    advanciivi 
[s,  driven  by  du' 
;ome  exile.     I''>t 
ive  than  the\  ihi 
[in  pairs  and  seek 

)rlh. 

note,  which  may 
ises  some  varietv 
[mething  lil^^'  '•'' 
■inning  loud  md 


(r 


slow,  and  going  up  and  down,  shrill  and  <iui(k,  with  a  reverbe- 
rating tone  almost  as  rapid  as  the  drununing  of  the  Ruffed 
('.rouse.  At  other  times  the  sound  appears  like  /<,•  ,/>■  Je  ,/,■  ,/e 
,/'  ,/'  ^'"^"'^'"^  '/'^  '/r\  rapitl  and  echoing  then  r.v,/  r.vv/  r.vvv/ 
KuU  tl-  \i  \i  \i  \/  \i  V/,  also  7i.<cct  wcef  locet  aV(V'  wf  a-/'  ,%-/«' 
u'/'  tn- ;  the  whole  of  these  notes  rising  and  running  together 
into  a  short  trill  something  like  the  song  of  the  C "ana it.  hut 
less  varied,  and  usually  in  a  (pierulous  or  somewhat  plaintive 
tone,  though  towards  the  close  of  summer  I  have  heard  indi- 
Niduals  nearly  as  musical  and  warbling  as  the  connnon  Wllow 
lliid.  These  tones  are  also  somewhat  similar  to  the  reved)era- 
tinii^  of  the  ("hii)ping  IJird,  but  cpiite  loud  and  M>norous,  and 
Without  the  changeless  monotony  of  that  species.  In  fact,  our 
Mrd  would  be  w-rthy  a  place  in  a  cage  as  a  songster  of  some 
merit.  Like  most  of  the  Sparrows,  the  food  of  this  si)ecies 
...UMsts  of  seeds  and  insects;  and  they  also  search  the  leaves 
and  branches  at  times  in  cjuesi  of  moths,  of  which  they  apjjear 
fond. 

The  Field  Sparrow  is  ratlicr  rare  north  of  Massacluisetts.  It 
has  not  l)een  taken  in  the  Maritime  Provinces,  though  Mr.  .\\  il.M)n 
thinks  it  not  uncommon  near  the  city  of  Quebec,  and  it  is  common 
thr.iii^hout  Ontario  and  in  Manitol)a. 


XoTi:.  —  A  few  examples  of  tlie  Ci..\v-( oronKt)  Siwkkow 
^Spiu-11,1  p,illi(ia)  wander  every  year  irom  their  usual  haiiitat  on 
the  (ircat  Plains  to  Iowa  and  Illinois. 


\"L.    I. 


FOX   SPARROW. 

PasSKRKI.I.A    II.IACA. 

Char  Above,  foxv  rtd  (brightest  on  wings  and  rump)  streaked  with 
ash  i(in  winter  the  ash  is  sumetimes  obscure);  head  and  tail  wiilidtit 
strtaki* .  win^s  witii  two  white  bars;  below,  white  spotted  with  ixil. 
Length  about  7  inches. 

,\V;/.  Amid  moss,  or  on  a  low  bush  ,  co'upostd  of  grass  and  moss,  lined 
with  gras.-',  roots,  and  feathers. 

£j^^j.  4-5;  white  with  green  or  blue  I'.nge,  spotted  and  blotched  with 
brown  of  several  shades  (sonietin)es  the  brown  almost  conceal>  the 
ground  colon;  great  variation  in  size,  average  about  o.So  X  065. 

Thi>  larf,'c  and  handsome  Sp:irr()sv,  after  ]xissin}^  the  siUDiiur 
and  breedin<,'-season  in  the  northern  regions  of  the  contiiicii; 
arourifl  Hudson  Hay,  and  farther  north  and  west  perhaps  to 
the  i»hores  of  the  Pacif^.r,  visits  ns  in  stragghng  parties  or  pair< 
from  the  middle  of  October  to  November.  .\t  this  time  :: 
frequents  low,  sheltered  thickets  in  moist  and  watery  situatioih. 
where  it  usnally  descends  to  the  ground  and  is  bnsilv  eni]il'iyi 
in  scratching  up  the  earth  and  rustling  among  the  fallen  K  ivo 
in  qtiest  of  seeds,  worms,  and  insects,  but  more  ]wrticularly  lb  j 
last.     It  migrates  in  a  desultory  manner,  and  sometimes  arrive- 


sLATK-coi.oki-n  jrxco. 
eorgia,  ])assiiig  the  winii-r   in  tl 


339 

10    SoiUluTIl 


iL-  sprin-   I,,    iis  favoriic   bnrcal 


■^il<-'m   l)ir(lh,   rather   t, 


line    and 


or  separatnl  tluir  call  is  sinii'Iv 
th« 


as  far  south  as  ( 
States  and  retiriiiLj;  t-arly  in  tl 
ntrcatii.     These  Sparrows  are 
nns'ispicious ;  when  alarmed 

.//./,  slup;  yet  at  times  in  me  sprin-,  a  utile  DeL.re  their 
departure,  they  whisj.er  forth  a  k^^^•  l.,u-  and  sueet  n.nes  indi- 
cative of  the  existence  of  vocal  i.owers  in  the  pairin-  season 

According  to  Richardson  this  species  breeds  in  \he  woody 
districts  of  the  fur  countries  up  to  the  G.Sth  parallel. 

Nuttall  was  correct  in  his  conjecture  that  the  Fox  Sparrow  is  a 
v..eahst.  It  ranks  as  a  peer  of  the  best  songsters  of  tl,e  enthe 
Sparrow-finch  tn!)e. 

1  have  heard  tiio  song  frequently  in  New  Brunswick,  when  cold 
storms  have  detained  the  birds  on  their  journev  north  nntii  the 
approach  of  their  mating  season.  Sometimes  thev  arrive  there 
early  m  March,  and  pass  on  in  a  couple  of  weeks,  without  utterin- 
any  other  note  than  a  metallic  .//.■,/.  Hut  when  th.v  tarrv  until 
alter  the  first  week  in  April  they  then  burst  into  full  son.'r  and 
s.n.:;-  almost  continuously.  It  is  a  -fervent,  .sensuous,  and  witlKil 
perteetly  rounded  carol,-'  writes  William  iJrewster:  and  he  adds- 
••  il  expresses  careless  joy  and  exultant  masculine  vi-or  ratlier  than 
the  imer  shades  ot  .sentiment."  The  voice  is  strong,  of  wide  com 
pass,  and  sweet,  ricii  tone. 

Nests  of  this  .species  have  been  found  on  the  Magdalen  Nhnds 
and  n,  Xewtoumlland,  where  it  is  called  the  Iled-e  Sparrow,  and 
I  liompson  reports  it  breeding  in  numbers  on  Duck  .Mountain  in 
Manitoba. 


SLATK-coi.oRi-n  jrxco. 

SXOW    liJRD.     WIllTF.    nil.!.. 
Jl'N'CO    IIM,MAI.I>. 

'■||\K.  Upper  parts,  neck,  .and  lnLa>t  dark  state  or  blackish  :,'A^■. 
lit  N>w- from  breast  barkwani —white ;  outer  tail-te.athei>  and  bill 
wh;t..     I.cn,i;thr,>4'  to6'..  ineiies. 

-\.-.'/.  In  grassy  woudknul,  oi  old  meadow,  or  hv  the  roadsiije.  some- 
-111' s  in  the  garden  of  a  tainiliunse  ;  pkurd  nndtr  the  shtlter  ofa  niomul 
'"■  Muni]),  or  amid  long  grass.  coniiH.>Ld.  u>uallv,  of  gra-s.  >.Mi,u.times 
'iiixL.l  with  roots  or  moss;  lining  ii.snally  of  lcatlier»,  hut' sometimes  hair, 
nn-,  Ml  moss  is  used 


340 


SIN'GING   lilRDS. 


/\.Xs.     4-5;  dull  white,  or  tiiitid  with  j^rccn  or  buff,  spotted  cliietly 
arouud  l;irger  cud  witli  rLMldi>li-bri)\vn  and  lilac;  o.So  X  0.60. 

This   h;ir(ly  and   very   nuincnjus  spucics,   conunon   to   l)()lli 
continents,  pours  in  flocks  from  the  northern  regions  into  the 
United  States  about  the  middle  of  October,  where  their  a])- 
pearancc  is  looked  upon  as  the  presage  of  approaching  winter. 
At  this  season  they  migrate  into  the  Southern  States  in  great 
numbers,  and  seem   to  arrive   in  augmenting  hosts  with  the 
l)rogress  of  the  wintry  storms  and  driving  snows,  before  whi(  h 
they  fly  for  food  rather  than  shelter;    for   even    during    the 
descent  of  the  whitening  inimdation,  and  while  the  tem])tsl 
still  rages  without  abatement,  these  hardy  and  lonely  wander- 
ers are  often  seen  flitting  before  the  blast,  and,  seeking  ad- 
vantage from  the  sweei)ing  current,  descend  to  collect  a  scanty 
pittance  from  the  frozen  and  e.\])osed  ground,  or  stop  to  col- 
lect  the    seeds  which    still    remain  upon  the  luishorn  weeds 
rising  through  the  dreary  waste.     At  such  times  they  are  alM) 
frecjuently  accompanied    by  the    Snow    liunting,    the  humbly 
dressed  Yellow  I!ird,  and  the   (luerulous   Chickadee.     Driwii 
to  straits,  however,  by  hunger,  they  at   length  become  ?ii(jrc 
familiar,  and  are   now  seen  about  the  barns  and  out-housis, 
si)reading  themselves  in  busy  groups  over  the  yard,  and  even 
ai)proaching  the  steps  of  the  door  in  towns  and  cities,  and 
gleaning  thankfully  from  the  threshold   any  crumbs  or  a(  c  i- 
dental  fragments  of  provision,     .\midst  all  this  threatening  and 
starving  weather,  which  they  encounter  almost  alone,  they  nrc 
still  lively,  active,   and    familiar.     The    roads,   presenting   iin 
accidental  resource  of  food  for  these  northern  swarms,  are  con- 
sequently more  frequented  by  them  than  the  fields.     IJefore  the 
severity  of  the  season  commences,  they  are  usually  only  sllii 
moving  in  families  ;  and  the  ])arents,  watchful  for  the  common 
safety,  still  continue  by  reiterated  chirpings  to  warn  their  lull 
grown  brood  of  every  approac  h  of  danger,  and.  withdrawin.' 
them  from  any  suspicious  observation,  wander  off  to  securer 
ground.     At  this  time  they  frequent  the  borders  of  woods,  seek 
through   the   thickets  and  among  the   fallen  leaves  for  their] 
usual  food  of  seeds  and  dormanl  insects  or  their  larv?e.     Their 


SLATE-COLOKlil)    [L\CU. 


spotted  chicily 

f)0. 

;ions  inU)  ll^' 
\cxc  Ihcir  ap- 

states  in  groal 
hosis  with  tlK' 
s,  •l)cft)ro  whit  U 
J,,    .luring   lii^' 
ilc  the  tcnM>^>^ 
lonciy  wantlov- 
na,  seeking  a.l- 
,  collect  a  scanty 
A,  or  stop  to  c.l- 
.  unshorn  weds 
mes  they  are  al^, 
,-,,,g,   the  humMy 
dckadee.     Driven 
rth  become  move 
s  and  otit-hous^s, 
L  yard,  and  even 
^s  and  cities,  aivl 
crumbs  or  aci- 
i\s  threatening  aivl 
,st  alone,  they  arc 
lis,  presenting   -'i^ 
L  sNvarms,  are  euu- 
fields.     IW-fore  ik 
usually  only  se.n 
L\  for  the  common 
to  warn  their  lull 
and.  withdrawing 
Lier  off  to  sec  <uc: 
Lrs  of  woods,  -cck 
h  leaves  for  thcu 
heir  larvae-     'H^^'^' 


341 


lution  is  not  unnei-cssary,  for  on  the  >kiri-,  of  the  Ku-.t  ll,Kk^ 


ihc  famished   Hawk  ])ro\vls  for  liis  fated  ] 


"vy,  ami  desceiKhiiL; 


with  a  stidden  ancl  successful  sweep,  carrier,  terror  ll 
he  wanderini;  and  retreating  ranks. 


irou^h  all 


In  the  latter  end  of  March  or  1 


)efnnnuii 


M"il, 


weather  begins  to  be  mild,  they  re-ai)iiear  in   Hocks  I 
South,  frecjuenting  the  (jn  hard  t 


as 


tin 


tcr  of  the  Woods,  and 


rees,  or  retreating  to  tl 


roni  the 
le   ^hel- 


seem  now  [o  j.refer  the  shade  ot  thickets 


)i-  the  sides  of  hills,  and  fre(|uenilv  utter  a  t 


note^ 


th 


ew  sweet,  clear,  and 


Imost  snmlar  to  the  touching  warble  of  the 
lairopean  Robin  Redbreast.  The  jealous  \onk>i  for  the 
selection  of  mates  already  also  takes  place,  soon  after  whi(  h 
they  retire  to  the  northern  regions  to  breed  ;  though,  accord- 
ing to  Wilson,  many  remove  only  to  the  high  ranges  of  the 
Alleghany  Mountains,  where,  in  the  interior  of  \'iiginia,  and 
t(nvards  the  western  .sources  of  the  Sus(|uehanna,  iluy'  al^o 
breed  in  great  numbers,  fixing  their  nests  on  the  ground  or 
among  the  grass,  the  pairs  still  associating  in  nrar  ci)mnumion 
with  each  other.  In  the  fur  countries  they  were  not  observed 
by  Richardson  beyond  the  57th  parallel. 

i'ho  Junco  breeds  from  northern   New  faigland  northward  and 
on  the  higher  hills  .south  to  North   Carolina.      It  is  an  alnuuluit 
.summer  re.sident  of  the   .Maritime   rrovinee.s,  au.l  winters  tlure  in 
small  numbers,     it  al.so  winters  sixir.selv  in  northern  New  Kn-I.uid 
an,!  ii-om  Massaclui.setts  southward  it  is  a  coMunon  winter  binl 

Ihe   .song    is    very   similar    to  that   n|    the    (Jjiippin-   .Spam.w 
Iliough  usually  building  its  nest  on  the  ground,  a  lew  have  hern 
iouud  m  other  situations.     .Sheriff  i;ishr)p.  of  Kentville  X  .S    it 
corded  in  the  O.  &  O.  for  .September,  iSS.S,  fuKling  nests  on  bran.""l:  s 
01  Inw  trees,  .n  holes  in  apple-trees,  etc. 


-\yTK,  -  Lxamples  of  the  Oki:(,ox  Jt'vro  (/.  hvemalis on-.-ottv^) 
J^n.li  was  discovered  by  Xuttal!  and  RichanlMui  in  the  forests  of 
"iv-on,  Iiave  wandered  into  .Michigan  and  M.is.saelui.setts 

Anuilier  species,   th.e   C.m^oi.ina    Jin<  .,   ^fmuo   c,in>//>u;,u\) 
^\.;>  tust  de.scribed  by  Mr.  William   lirewsler  bom  siK-cimens  o!,- 
I'li'ed  by  him  on  the  mountains  of  North  Cirolina  in  June    iSS; 
'  IS  nuieh  larger  and  li-hter  colored  than  /ivnn.t/is.  and'has  a 
liorn-.olored  bill. 


34^ 


SINGING   i;iKl)^. 


SWAMP    SPARROW. 

Mr.LOSl'IZA   GEOUCIIANA. 

CilAK.  Al)i)vc,  streaked  with  brown,  Mack,  ami  buff;  crnwn  bay, 
sonii. times  witli  iiulistiiK I  lucdian  line  ol  asli  and  streaks  ol  blaLk;  Inre- 
liead  black;  brnwii  >tiii)e  beiiinil  eyes,  sides  of  licail  and  r.eck  ash; 
l)el()\v,  dull  white,  brca>t  shaded  with  ash,  sides  shaded  with  brown  , 
wint;s  anil  tail  tinged  with  bay.      Len^lh  about  5-4  inches. 

A'ts^.  Under  cover  of  long  grass,  in  a  swanip  or  wet  meadow  ;  usually 
made  entirely  of  gra.ss,  though  sometimes  wccd-slcms  are  added  to  ihe 
e.xterior,  and  liair  is  used  in  lining. 

/■-,:.;:;■■!.  4-6;  dull  white,  tinted  with  green,  blue,  or  jiink,  blotched,  often 
clouded,  with  lilac  and  several  shades  of  brown  ;  o.iio  X  o.Oo. 

The  iKiuatic  habits  of  these  coiiitnon,  though  little  known, 
birds  is  one  of  their  most   remarkable  peculiarities.     In   New 
I'jigland  they  arrive  from  tiie  Soiitheru  Slates,  where  they  win- 
ter, about  the  iiiitldle  of  April,  and  take  n])  their  .lumnier  resi- 
dence   in   the   swamps  ami   marshy  meadows  through   whi(  h, 
often  without  Hying,  they  thread  their  devious  way  with  tiic 
same  alacrity  as  the   Rail,  with  whom  they  are  indeed  oluii 
associated  in  neighborlK)od.      In  conseiiuence  of  this  i)erpetiKil 
brushing   through    sedge    and   bushes,  their   feathers   are    frc- 
(juently  so  worn  that  their  tails  appear  almost  like   those  ot 
rats,  and  arc  very  often  llirtcd  in  the  manner  of  the  Wagtail. 
Occasionally,  howe\er,  they  mount  to  the  tops  of  low  buslies 
or  willow-trees  and  chant  forth  a  few  trilling,  rather  monoto- 
nous minor  notes,  resembling,  in  some  measure,  the  song  of 
the  Field  Sparrow,  and  appearing  like  A'.'('  /.v'  /Ti''  /ri''  /Tc''  /,■.■ 
/-iv',  and  /7i'/'  A-i'V  7a'  /a-'  /nr,  uttered  in  a  pleasant  and  some- 
what varied  warble.     These  notes  are  made  with  consider  iMe 
effort,   and  sometimes  with  a  spreading  of  the  tail.     In   ilu 
spring,  on  their  first  arrival,  this  song  is  delivered  with  nvuh 
spirit,  and   echoes  through   the  marshes  like   the  trill  of  iliei 
Canary.     The  sound  now  resembles  the  syllables  '/Vt.'  '/;.'  '/,'. 
'/7iw  '/7.VV  'f7c>  'fret'  't-,vc,  or  'A///  'A///-  'tshc  't<h  WsJi  'A//  7.'; 
beginning  loud,  sweet,  and  somewhat  plaintive  ;  and  the  -on. 
is  continued  till  late  in  the  morning,  and  after  sunset  in  tlu| 
evening.     This   rever])erating  tone  is  again  somewhat  sinii 


SWAMP    SPARROW 


343 


buff;  ^-i-"^^'"  ^'•''■' 

a  and  neck  ;xsh  ; 
tied  wHh  br.Avn  , 

rmeadoNv;  i>s"-.^lly 
,  ;irc  added  l>.  >1^^' 

.,,U,WnKbcd,..luu 
X  o.Oo. 

.^5h  Uttk  knoNvn, 
bnucs.     in  N^- 
„  ^vhere  tbcv  w>n- 
h,ir  summer  rcM- 
vs  through  Nvh>>  1^. 
ious  way  Nvhh  UK' 
,  ,re  hvlce.l  ofun 
L.  ntlhis  poriKU'.il 
r   feathers  are   trc- 
lu.ost  like  those  o 

,,,  of  the  NVagt.>>l. 

,,ps  of  low  bu>l-'> 

.,yr  rather  iwnv>i- 
,;;nre.  the  son^  -'< 
/.^,'  /r.''  /«''  ^^'   ^■-' 
pleasant  and  sonu'- 

L  with  consulev  >hU 

Lf  the  tall,     m  -IH 
Lhvered  with  nva 

like  the  trill  oi  v  el 
bvUaWes  '^^'  '^;\;': 
I/;,  v./.  v.//  V-s//   A" 
uive  ;  and  the  ^>>^- 
L  ^fter  sunset  u^  t  J 
In  somewhat  sm^lvl 


to  that  of  the  Chiiiping  Sparrow,  hm  tar  IoikUt  and  more  musi- 
cal. In  the  intervals  the  Swamp  Sparrow  (KstriKK  into  the 
grassy  tussocks  and  low  bushes  in  quest  of  his  insect  food,  as 
well  as  to  repose  out  of  sight  ;  and  while  here  his  movements 
are  as  silent  and  secret  as  those  ol'  a  mouse.  The  rice  planta- 
tions and   river  swani])s  are   the   favorite  hibernal    ri'xirts   of 


ih 


ese  birds  in  Louisiana,  (lecjrLua,  and  the  Carol 


mas 


lere  the 


}' 


ri 


are  very  numerous,  and  skulk  among  the  canes,  reeds,  and  rank 
LTiass,  solicitous  of  concealment,  and  alwa\s  exhibiting  their 
predilection  for  watery  places.  In  the  breeding  season,  before 
the  ripening  of  many  seeds,  they  live  much  on  the  insects  of 
the  marshes  in  which  they  are  found.  ])articularly  the  smaller 
coleopterous  kinds,  Caraln  and  Ciirctilioin-s.  'I'hey  e.\tt.'nd 
their  northern  migrations  as  far  as  the  coasts  of  Labrador  and 
Newt'oundland. 

They  probably  raise  two  or  three  broods  in  a  season,  lieing 
pially  prolific  with  t)ur  other  Sparrows,    'ihev  express  extreme 

icitude  for  their  young  even  after  they  are  fully  Hedged  and 
.ilile  to  i)rovide  for  themselves;  the  young  also,  in  their  turn, 
pM^sess  uncommon  cunning  and  agility,  running  and  concealing 
ihemselves  in  the  sedge  of  the  wet  meadows.  'rhe\-  are  (|Mile 
as  difhcult  to  catch  as  field-mice,  and  seldom  on  tliese  emer- 
gencies attem]:)t  to  take  wing.  We  have  observed  one  of  these 
sauMcious  liirds  dart  from  one  tussock  to  another,  and  at  last 
ili\e  into  the  grassy  tuft  in  such  a  manner,  or  elude  the  grasj) 
Ml  well,  as  seemingly  to  disappear  or  burrow  into  the  earth. 
Their  robust  legs  and  feet,  as  well  as  long  (laws,  seem  jnir- 
I'l-ely  provided  to  accelerate  this  clinging  and  running  on  the 
lauven  ground. 

This  species  is  common  tliroughout  tlie  settled  portions  of  east- 
ern Canada,  and  abundant  on  the  St.  Clair  I'lai.-.  and  in  Manitoba. 


'I 


1'^^', 


SHARP- r.\II.i:i)   SPARROW. 

SlIORK    FINCH. 
AmM(  )I»R.\.Mrs    CAUnACUTUS. 

Ch\U.  Above,  brownish  gray  tin,i,'ed  with  olive;  crown  darker,  w  it 'i 
median  stripe  of  asliy  gray  and  two  stripes  of  black  ;  I)ack  streaked  with 
black;  stripes  of  l)iit"f  above  and  below  eyes  meeting  bcliind  car-coveit-, 
wings  edged  with  yellow:  tail-feathers  narrow,  with  acutely  pointed  tip-: 
below,  dull  white,  breast  and  sides  tinged  with  bull  and  streaked  with 
black.     Length  about  5 '4  inches. 

A\:tt.  In  a  salt-marsh  or  wet  meadow,  amid  a  cluster  of  reeds  or  inft 
of  sedges,  to  the  stems  of  which  it  is  sometimes  fastened;  a  soniewliai 
bulky  structure  of  grass  and  weed-stems,  lined  with  fine  grass. 

I\^'',^'s.  4-5;  dull  white  or  tinged  with  butT  or  green,  thickly  spottd 
with  brown  and  lilac;  0.75  X  0.55. 

The  Shore  iMiich  is  an  inh;il)itant  of  the  low  islands  ami 
marshy  sea-coasts  from  Massachusetts  to  Texas,  living  on 
small  shrim])s,  marine  insects,  and  probably  grass  seeds,  niM\- 
ing  through  the  rank  herbage  nearly  with  the  same  agility  .mil 
timidity  as  a  Swamp  S])arro\v,  to  which  in  structure  nt"  ihe 
feet  and  stoutness  of  the  bill    it  bears  considerable  artiiiitv. 


ACADIAN    MIAKI'-IAII.KD   .>I'AKR()\V. 


345 


These  birds  arc  not  rare,  though  not  s(,  numcnnis  as  the  Sea- 
side Sparrow,  with  which  they  cotDmonly  associate. 

These  l-'inches  fre(itieiu  the  water,  and  walk  on  the  lloating 
weeds  as  if  on  the  land  ;  throiij^lKjiu  the  winter  they  remain 
jiiv^arious  till  spring',  when  tiiey  M.parate  lor  tiie  purpose  of 
breeding.  They  are  almost  silent,  a  >in;,'le  fur,/  being  now 
,ill  ihey  are  heard  to  utter;  and  even  in  the  sprmg,  so  defec- 
tive are  they  in  melody  that  their  note-,  are  scarcely  worth) 
the  name  of  a  song.  Ihey  nest  on  the  ground,  amid  the  slu)rt 
marsh-grass  near  the  line  of  high-water  ni.irk ,  a  slight  hollow 
is  made,  and  then  lined  with  delicate  gra.ss,  1  hey  raise  two 
hiuuds  in  the  season  in  the  Mitldle  .Stales. 

•Sharp-tails"'  have  been  traced  north  to  I'rinrc  lalwarcrs  Island. 
hill  ill  icS87  Mr.  Jonathan  Dwigiit.  Jr..  <li>»«:ov«.rc(l  tliat  tnu- t-,///</</- 
IU//I.S  had  not  been  taken  beyond  I'orthrnoiith,  N.  II..  tlic  birds 
found  to  the  northward  of  that  point  l>cing  adi.stinct  variety,  which 
he  named  siiltv/ri;a/us. 


W. 


,  crown  cbrkcr,^^";; 
•  back  sucakca  vvuh 
■     ch-nulc;u-covcu-. 

\a  ;uu\  sivcaUccl  vvnh 
Ltencc\;  a  soukwI''' 

[e  low  islands  an.l 

Texas,   \\y^^   "" 
arass  seeds,  nv.v- 

e'samc  agUitV  nvl 


L   strvu-iur 


e   of  ili^' 


ins 


siderablc  aft^nay. 


Ac.\i)i.\N  SH.\Ri'-r.\iij:r>  sparrow. 

.Am-Modramus  c;.\ri)ACfjr>«  si:iMur..\ivH. 

I'll  \K.  "  Similar  in  size  and  colorinj;  to  /I.  (awliuuius,  but  paler  and 
iiiuili  less  conspicuously  streaked  I)cneath  wiih  j»alt  ^Tftnish  pray  instead 
"I  M.ick  or  dee])  brown,  bill  averages  smaller.  <.om[)arcd  with  luisoiii 
It  i-  tiiuch  ])aler  and  gr.aycr,  generally  larger,  and  wiih  a  ion);er  bill" 
(l>\\i,i;ht). 

A".  Z  and  E!^i:^s  are  not  known  to  differ  from  th'/M;  of  true  iiiuddiutus. 

The  habitat  of  this  newly  discovered  svi\ys\ttfMs.  or.  rather,  the 
limit  of  its  range,  has  not  yet  been  determiiJcL  Mr.  Dwiglit  ^ives 
i!  as  ".Marshes  of  southern  New  iJrunswkk,  I'rirK  r  lidward's 
Islaiul.  and  probably  Nova  Scotia,  and  soutliward  in  migration 
aloni;  the  Atlantic  coast."  In  habits  the  j>n.->»ent  I>ird  flitters  from 
(au.iaiutus  in  frequenting  fresh-water  marshcii  anfl  rlry  meadows 
on  ilic  margins  of  inland  streams. 

'1  he  song  of  tliis  bird  if  its  few  wlieezy  note^  deserve  such 
ivnionition  —  is  a  rather  ludicrous  cfl'ort.  and  -suj^i^ests  ;i  b.nl  (old 
ill  the  head.  .Mr.  Dwight  represents  it  by  tJx-  syllables  Ik-xc-e- 
c-c-oo[^.  All  I  remember  liavint^  heard  from  tbe  specimens  I 
Liicoimtered  is  the  sce-c-c-e-oop,  delivered  with  apparent  etfort,  as 
if  cliokiiiir. 


340 


SINCiINd    IIIKDS. 


Ni:i-S()N'S   SI'AKKOW. 
Ammodkamis  cAL'iJAci'i is  nklsoni. 

Char.  Differ^  IKiin  ilic  type  l)y  tlic  cnlors  of  the  back  bciiij;\(i\ 
sl)ai|)lv  (kt'iULil,  the  white  .i  clearer  hli.ulc,  ami  the  l)rn\vii  a  richer  aii.i 
iiiiHc  decided  umber ,  client  aiul  >ides  deep  butt'.     Si/e  larj^cr  than  tin 

IdlldiUlltllS. 

A't-s*  and  E,i;x-^  .similar  to  iaiiiiaaitiis. 

Nelson's  Shari>l;iil  was  described  In-  ^Fr.  J.  A.  Allen  in  tS;^. 
It  is  luiiiul  ill  siiinnier  on  tiie  niarslies  of  the  Mississippi  v:il!r\, 
and  in  winter  oti  the  Atlantic-  coast  from  .Massaeinisetts  (spaiin.i;h; 
to  iNortii  Carolina,  atid  possibly  to  the  dull  States. 


SHASIDi;   SI 'ARROW. 

SKAsinr:  i-jncii. 

Am.Mi  It  >KA.MUS    MAKII IMLS. 

Char.  Above,  dull  olive  brown,  back  and  head  with  indistinct  siic.iks 
of  ashy  ;  superciliary  line  and  e<lge  ol'  win^  yi'low  ;  below,  dull  white,  ilic 
l)reast  and  -ides  with  flaik  striaks.     Length  .ibont  (\  inches. 

Aust.  Hidden  ,iinid  a  tuft  of  ^rass  or  coar>e  sedges  in  a  salt  luar.-li  or 
wet  meadow  ;  sometimes  placed  on  the  t;rounil,  often  a  few  inches  abwvc 
it ;  Composed  of  drv  grass. 

/•■;;'.f.  4-(J ;  dull  white  with  green  or  but'f  tint,  spotted  with  brcnvii; 
O.So  X  0.60. 

This  s])ecics  is  not  tincominon  in  the  iiiaritiinc  iiiarsiiy 
grounds  and  in  tlu'  sea  islands  alont;  the  Atlantic  coast  Ik  1111 
^[assachllSL■tts  to  the  Southern  Stati's.  It  confines  its  f\<  ur- 
sions  almost  wholly  within  the  bounds  of  the  tide-water,  K:iv- 
iny  its  favorite  retreats  for  niore  inland  situations  onlv  :iiKr 
the  i)revalence  of  violent  easterly  storms.  In  (inest  of  maiiiic 
insects,  crtistacea,  shrinijis,  and  tninnte  shell-fish,  it  coiiims 
along  the  borders  of  the  strand  with  all  the  nimbleness  of  a 
Sandpiper,  examining  the  sea-weeds  and  other  exuvise  for  it^ 
fare;  it  seeks  out  its  prey  also  at  dusk,  as  well  as  at  cilicr 
times,  and  usually  roosts  on  the  ground  like  a  Lark.  In  short, 
it  derives  its  whole  subsistence  from  the  margin  of  the  oi<;in. 


SKASini:   SPAR  ROW 


347 


,,ttcd  with  br.nvn; 


;iiul  its  flesh  is  even  imbui'd  with  the  rank  or  fishy  tnsti-  to  he 
expected  from  the  nature  of  its  tuod.  At  other  times  it  re- 
mains amidst  tile  thi(  ke^t  ut'  tlie  sea-grass,  and  (liinl)s  upon 
tlie  herbage  with  as  much  (k'Xterity  as  it  runs  on  thi'  ^^round. 
Its  feet  and  legs  {'uv  thi»  purpose  are  robust,  as  iu  tlu'  Swauip 
Sparrow.  It  ai/|iears  to  ri'ar  two  broocU  in  tlie  si'ason.  In 
M.iy  and  June  die  Sea>iile  JMiicli  may  be  seen  ahnost  at  all 
hours  perched  on  the  top  of  some  rank  weed  near  the  salt- 
marsh,  singing  with  much  emphasis  the  few  notes  which  coni- 
pose  its  monotonous  song.  W'lun  appro, nhed  it  seeks  ri'tnge 
iu  the  rank  grass  by  descending  down  the  stalks,  or  (lies  oil'  to 
a  ilistance,  flirting  its  wings,  anil  llun,  alighting  suddenly,  runs 
off  with  great  nimbleness. 

Tlic  Seaside  Finch  is  now  considered  a  rare  bird  in  Mass.i- 
cluisutts,  though  common,  if  not  abundant,  in  (.'oniui  ti(  ut.  It  is 
not  (|uiti'  so  L-\clusi\  I'iy  niaiitiinc  as  N'utt.dl  supposrd.  as  it  i>  found 
on  lliu  ni.u-gins  of  rivers  so  far  inlanil  ih.U  liie  w.iter  is  scarcely 
liiMckish. 


NoTK.  —  Scott's  Si:\sii)1-.  Spakuow  (./.  niinitiinns  f^cihii- 
Mi.\r)  was  first  described  from  specimens  taken  Iiy  Mr.  W.  I-..  I). 
Sdiit  at  Tarpon  Springs.  Florida,  in  iSSS,  It  is  intenuediaie  iu 
coll irat ion  between  //.  ///i^/rxir/is  and  .  /.  iitaiiliiiiiis. 

This  race  has  bei'U  found  only  along  the  southwestern  coast  of 
Florida  and  on  Ciraud  Isle,  olf  Louisiana. 

The  Dl'SKV  Si:.\sii)|-.  Svahkow  (.  I wwoi/rii/////\-  ///i;rrsif//\)  ■-■ 
which  differs  from  Diaiitiiinis  in  biing  black  above,  streaked  with 
olive  and  gray,  beneath  white,  streaked  with  black — occurs  in 
.Miu'.hern  Florida. 


AMERICAN    (lOLDFINCIT. 


YELLOW    HIRD.     THISTLE    lUKl).     THISTLE    ELNCIL     WILD 

CANARY. 

Si'iMs  TRisris, 

Char.  Male  in  summer:  hiiiilit  jjambo^c  yellow ;  crown,  wings,  and 
tail  black  ;  upper  and  under  tail-covcrts,  wini;  and  tail  markings,  white. 
In  winter  the  male  resembles  the  female,  though  witli  less  olive  tint. 
Female  :  aljove,  olive  brown  ;  below,  paler  or  yellowish  ;  forehead  with- 
out black  ;  wings  and  tail  much  the  same  as  in  the  male.  Length  about 
4,^4  inches. 

iXcst.  In  a  ])asture  or  orchard  ;  ustially  ])lacecl  in  a  crotch  of  a  deciihi- 
ous  tree  lo  to  20  feet  from  the  ground  ;  a  compact  and  gracefully  formed 
cup,  made  of  grass  and  \egetable  fibre,  lined  with  grass  and  plant  down, 
and  often  with  hair. 

Kkk^-  ,V^'  ;  white  with  tint  of  green  or  greenish  blue,  occasionally 
marked  with  faint  spots  of  brown  ;  0/15  X  0.50. 

'J'his  tomnion,  active,  and  j^nvgarions  (loldfinch  is  a  very 
general  inliabitant  of  the  Ignited  States.  It  is  also  found  in 
siniiiner  in  the  remote  interior  of  Canada,  in  the  fur  countiicj 
and  near  Lake  \Vinnipi(]ue,  in  the  49th  degree  of  latitmlc.  ;b 
well  as  in  the  remote  territory  of  Oregon  and  the  R<i(ky 
Mountains,  on  tiie  banks  of  Lewis's  River,  where  I  found  tho 
nest  as  asual  with  white  eggs.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  ;ilso 
met  with  in  Mexico,  and  even  in  (luiana  and  Surinam  in  trop- 
ical America,  where  it  frequents  the  savannas.  Although 
many  of  these  birds  which  spend  the  summer  here  leave  at 
the  approach  of  winter,  yet  hungry  (locks  are  seen  to  arri\  e 


AMERICAN   GOLDKINXII. 


349 


VINCU.    wH-n 


,.  crown,  Nving^^^'^'^ 
t;il  uurkings.  v^•huc. 

with  less  olive  t,u 
wish;i-chc.d..- 

,,,,lc.     Length  Ai..>, 

,  notch  of  a  dcci.-a- 
,nd  gracefully  foruv.a 
;,ss  and  plant  down, 


llY 


Lh  bh'C,  occasionu 


loldfinch  is  a  very 
U  Is  a\so  foun-l  m 
In  the  fur  covtntnc^ 
^,eo  of  \atituac.  a^ 
I,    and  Iho    Ko'^^ 
Ivbcrc  I  fottncl  iju' 
Ihcr  hana,  it  is  ^'^^« 
l\  Surinam  in  Ivop- 
t-annas.      A^b'-^^ 
tmcr  hero  leav.  a- 
k  seen  to  arrive  i'>. 


this  part  of  Xt-w  I'lngland  throughout  thai  season  ;  ami  some- 
tinifs,  in  comiKiny  with  the  Snow  Huntings,  in  the  incicnu'nt 
months  of  January  and  February,  they  may  be  seen  busily 
employed  in  gleaning  a  scanty  pitt.ince  from  the  seetls  of  the 
taller  weeds,  which  rise  above  the  deep  and  drif  I  snows.  As 
late  as  the  15th  of  September  1  have  observed  a  nest  of  the 
Yellow  Hird  with  the  young  still  untledged.  Their  migrations 
are  very  desultory,  and  do  not  probably  extend  very  fir,  liieir 
progress  being  ajjparently  governed  principally  by  tiie  scarcity 
or  abundance  of  food  with  which  they  happen  to  be  supplied. 
Thus,  though  they  may  be  numerous  in  the  depth  of  winter,  as 
sddu  as  the  weather  relaxes  in  the  month  of  March,  scarcely 
any  more  of  them  are  U)  be  seen,  having  at  this  time,  in  (piest 
of  sustenance,  proceeded  prcbably  to  the  southern  extremity  of 
the  I'nited  States.  Thosi-  (observed  in  trojjical  America  may 
be  liibernal  wanderers  from  the  cooler  parts  of  Mexico.  At 
all  events  they  select  the  milder  climates  of  the  Union  in 
which  to  i)ass  the  breeding  season,  as  at  this  time  they  are  but 
rarely  seen  in  the  Southern  States,  Kentucky  being  about  the 
boundary  of  their  summer  residence. 

Naturally  vagrant  and  wandering,  they  continue  to  live  in 
lldcks  or  in  near  vicinage,  even  throughout  the  greatest  ]).irt  of 
the  selective  season.  As  the  fme  weather  of  spring  ap])roaches 
thev  put  off  their  humble  winter  dress,  and  the  males,  now 
apinaring  in  their  temporary  golden  livery,  are  heard  tuning 
tlnir  lively  songs  as  it  were  in  concert,  several  sitting  on  the 
same  tree  enjoying  the  exhilarating  scene,  basking  and  i>luming 
themselves,  and  vying  with  each  other  in  the  delivery  of  tiieir 
varitd,  soft,  and  cheerful  warble.  They  have  also  the  faculty 
of  sinkiuLf  and  raising  their  voices  in  such  a  ileliuhtful  cadence 
that  their  music  at  times  seems  to  float  on  the  distant  bree/e, 
scarcely  louder  than  the  hum  of  bees  ;  it  then  breaks  out  as  it 
Were  into  a  crescendo,  which  rings  like  the  loud  song  of  the 
Canary.  In  cages,  to  which  they  soon  become  ("nniliar  and 
rtHonciled,  th"ir  song  is  nearly  as  sonorous  and  animated  as 
that  of  the  latter.  When  engaged  in  (piarrel  they  sometimes 
hur!  about  in  a  whijle    tlock,  some,  as  it  were,  intertering  to 


350 


SI\(;i\G   BIRDS. 


make  peace,  others  amused  by  the  fray,  all  uttering  Unid  and 
discordant  chirpings.  One  of  their  most  common  whining; 
calls  while  engaged  in  collecting  sri'ds  in  gardens,  where  tluy 
seem  to  be  sensible  of  their  dt-liniiuency,  is  ' indy  ln\  ^ tiuiy  lu'. 
They  have  also  a  common  cry  like  ' tshcvcct '' tshcvcc,  uttered  in 
a  slender,  complaining  accent.  'I'hese  and  some  other  twitur 
ing  notes  are  frequently  uttered  at  every  impulse  while  jnir^ii 
ing  their  desultory  waving  (light,  rising  and  fdling  as  they  shut 
or  exjiand  their  laboring  wings.  'Ihey  are  partial  to  gardens 
and  domestic  premises  in  the  latter  end  of  siunmer  ami 
autumn,  collecting  oily  seeds  of  various  kinds  and  shelliui;- 
them  with  great  address  and  fuuiliarity,  if  undisturbi'd  otu  ii 
hanging  and  moving  about  head  downwards,  to  suit  their  con- 
venience while  thus  busily  and  craftily  employed.  They  have 
a  particular  fondness  for  thistle  seeds,  s])reading  the  down  in 
clouds  around  them,  and  at  this  time  feeding  very  silently  aivl 
intently  ;  nor  are  they  very  easily  disturbed  while  thus  cngagiil 
in  the  useful  labor  of  destroying  the  germs  of  these  noxious 
weeds.  They  do  some  damage  o( casionally  in  gardens  1)V 
their  indiscriminate  destruction  of  lettuce  and  flower  seeds. 
and  are  therefore  often  disliked  by  gardeners;  but  their  u  c- 
fulness  in  other  respects  far  counterbalances  the  trifling  in  ju- 
ries they  produce,  'i'hey  are  very  fond,  also,  of  washing  ;mil 
bathing  themselves  in  luild  weather;  and  as  well  as  teiidrr 
buds  of  trees  they  sometimes  collect  the  Coiifcn'as  of  spriiiL:- 
and  brooks  as  a  variety  to  their  usual  fire. 

They  raise  sometimes  two  broods  in  the  season,  as  their 
nests  are  found  from  the  first  week  in  July  to  the  middle  of 
September.  In  iS^^i  I  examined  several  ne^ts,  and  from  tl;i 
late  perioil  at  which  they  begin  to  breed  it  is  impossible  that 
they  can  ever  act  in  the  capacity  of  nurses  to  the  (  nw 
'i'roopial.  This  pnxrastination  api)ears  to  be  occasioned  I'v 
the  lack  of  sufficiently  nutritive  diet,  the  seeds  on  which  ihev 
princii)ally  feed  not  ripening  usually  before  July. 

NoTF..  —  The  Bi.Ac  K-ui:.\i)i:n  Goi,dfin(  ii  {Spiniis  notatu^^- 
a  Mexican  bird,  is  credited  wilii  an  accidental  occurrcmr  ii. 
Kentucky. 


riNE   SISKIN. 


35' 


•ing  loud  ami 
mon  whiniiv^ 
IS,  where  tluy 
iy  In',  '"i^iy  ''•'■ 
7V(',  uttered  m 
.  other  tsvitU'i 
^e  while  inu"^"- 
ng  as  they  shut 
rtial  to  gardens 
,f  summer   and 
as  and   shelVuv4 
ulisturbed  oft.n 
o  suit  their  con- 
,-ed.     They  have 
ihig  the  down  m 
very  silently  and 
hile'thus  enga;4'd 
of  these  noxious 
,y   in  gardens   hy 
tuid   HoNver  seeds, 
rs  ;  but  their  u  c- 
the  trining  iui'>- 
,^  of  washing  and 
.^s  well   as  t.-ndcr 
\nfcrras  of  spnui:^ 


I.  season,  as 


tlH'ir 


k-  lo  the  middU'  >" 
|c-,ts,  and  from  tl'^ 

is  imi'ossihW-  tl"^ 
Irses  to  the  (  >av 
l,c  occasioned  hy 
Inls  on  whieh  du'V 

idy. 

{Spiiiits   no(cit:'>]- 
lutal  occurrence  m 


PINK    SISKIN. 

PINE    FINCH.     I'INK    I.IN\ET. 
SriMS    IMNIS. 
Char.     Above,   olive   brown  or  dark    flaxen,  streaked    witli    diiskv 


\vinu;s 


and  tail   black,  the   feall 


d    wit 


1    Veliiiw  ;   \vnii2s    with    Iwd 


iiitli>h  bars;  below  streaked  with  clunky  and  yellowish  white,     l.enyti 
bont  4/4  inches. 
iVtsf.     Usually  in  a  deej)  forest,  on  a  horizontal  branch  of  an  cver^re 


en 


as  a   rule, 


tree  20  to  40  feet  from  the  ground.  It  is  fairlv  well  built, 
but  is  neither  as  compact  nor  {graceful  as  the  'rhi>tle  liird's,  and  is  lom- 
poscd  of  various  materials,  thougli  i,'enerally  , grass,  twigs,  and  pine-needles 
f(irni  the  exterior,  while  the  lining  is  either  featiiers  or  hair,  or  both. 

''-.v^''-f'  3~S ;  P-''*^  green  or  greenish  blue  s])olted  with  light  reddish 
brown  and  lilac;  0.70  X  0.50. 

Our  acquaintance  with  this  little  northern  (ioldfinch  is  vt-ry 
unsatisfactory.  It  visits  the  Middle  Slates  in  Novrinl)<.r.  frc- 
i]uents  the  shady,  sheltered  ])orders  of  creeks  and  ri\iilet>,  and 
ii  ])articu]arly  fond  of  the  seeds  of  the  liemlock-tree.  Anions; 
the  woods,  where  these  trees  abound,  these  liinls  assemble  in 
tlorks,  and  contentedly  jjass  away  the  winter.  .Migrating  for 
no  other  purpose  but  subsistence,  their  visits  are  ncccss.u'ily 
desultory  and  uncertain.  My  friend  .Mr.  Oakes.  of  I[i>wi(h, 
has  seen  thenr  in  large  llocks  in  that  \i(  inity  in  winter.  With 
us  they  are  rare,  though  their  favorite  food  is  abundant.  'I'hey 
are  by  no  means  shy,  and  perniil  a  near  approacdi  without  tak- 
ing alarm,  often  lltittering  among  the  iM'anches  in  which  they 
feei],  hanging  sometimes  by  the  cones,  and  o( casionally  titter- 
ui-  notes  very  similar  to  those  of  the  .\nicrican  (loldfincli. 
iiuly  in  March  they  proceed  to  the  North,  and  my  friend 
.\udul)on  observed  them  in  families.  a<-conipanicd  by  thiir 
young,  in  Labrador  in  the  month  of  July.  Tiii'y  fre(iuentcd 
low  thickets  in  the  vicinity  of  water,  in<l  were  e\treniel\  fear- 
le^>  and  gentle.  Their  stimnna-  plinn.ige,  a-,  we  ha\  c  since 
al^i  foiuul  in  the  Oregon  'l\'rriior\.  where  they  abound  and 
hreed.  is  entirely  similar  to  the  garb  in  whi(  h  they  visit  lis  in 
thf  winter,  with  the  sole  exception  that  the  yellow  of  the  wings 
is  hii filter. 


352 


SINGING   lURDS. 


They  sing  on  the  wing  In  the  manner  of  the  (loldfimli. 
'Iheir  notes  are  clear,  lively,  and  mellow,  like  as  in  that  biiil, 
but  still  sufficiently  distinct ;  they  fly  out  in  the  same  graceful. 
deep  cnr\-es,  emitting  also  the  common  call- note  at  every 
effort  to  proceed. 

The  history  of  this  interesting  bird  is  but  little  better  known  to- 
day than  when  Xiittall  wrote.  Our  ignorance  is  partly  due  to  tlic 
irrejjular,  nomadic  lKil)its  of  tlie  bird,  but  chiefly  because  its  favoi  ;te 
haunts  art  in  out-of-the-way  ])Iaces,  amid  the  deeper  recesses  of  the 
forests,  where  few  observers  penetrate.  At  intervals  large  tlorks 
visit  the  outskirts  of  settlements,  and  even  look  in  upon  the  \ii- 
layes;  hut  these  arc  merely  excursions  by  the  way  introduced  uito 
the  migration  programme.  Its  hal)itat  is  now  given  as  '•  NOiih 
America  in  general,  breeding  mostly  north  of  the  United  States. " 
In  ihc  east,  nests  have  been  found  in  New  York  State  by  Ur.  C. 
Hart  Merriam  and  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher,  and  a  few  pairs  are  known 
to  breed  yearly  in  Massachusetts;  but  the  major  portion  of  tlic 
eastern  rio(  ks  go  to  the  more  northern  ])ortions  of  New  Knghmd 
and  f>eyond  before  settling  down  for  the  summer. 

The  date.s  usually  given  for  the  nesting  are  early  in  May  ;  but 
a  much  earlier  time  is  given  by  Dr.  A.  Leith  Adams,  an  I'.n^^- 
lis!i  naturalist  wlio  met  witli  the  sjiecies  in  New  Brunswick,  lii 
his  ••  Ft»  Id  and  Forest  Randiles,"'  he  writes  :  "  It  breeds  early,  and 
has  its  young  dving  before  tlie  first  summer  migrants  arrive  in 
April,  when  large  docks  may  be  ol)served  feeding  on  tiie  buds  (it 
the  hawthorn  prejiaratory  to  their  departure  northward."  He  adds 
tliat  it  (.-»  a  choice  cage-bird,  and  is  easily  tamed.  He  kept  sonif 
for  several  months,  and  wlicn  lilierated  they  all  returned  to  their 
ca^es  aUrr  an  ai)sence  of  several  days. 

The  biography  of  tins  species  forms  an  interesting  chajitei  in 
that  interesting  book,  "The  Land  Birds  and  (iame  Birds  of  Nrw 
Kn'4land."  by  H.  D.  .Minot,  —  a  book,  by  the  way,  that  has  ndt 
r^rccii'ed  the  recoirnition  its  merit  deserves. 


he   Coltlfinch. 
in  thai  Iniil, 
same  graceful, 
nolo    at   every 


ctter  known  lo- 
artly  due  to  the 
:ause  its  {avor;te 
■r  rccessi-s  ot  ilu: 
vals  lav<;e  tlo.  ks 

in  upon  the  vi'l- 
y  introduced  nito 
aiven  as  '•  Noitli 
c  United  Siati's." 
;  State  by  t)'-  *-  • 

pairs  arc  known 
jor  portion  of  iIk' 

of  New   Kn.iihunl 

early  In  May  ;  V'"t 
1  Adams,  an  Kivj;- 
w  Brunswick,     in 
breeds  early,  and 
nVmrants  arrive  m 
i./on  the  buds  ol 
luvard."     He  adds 
1.      He  kept  sonu- 
returned  to  t'nv,! 

|rcstin<j;  chapter  in 

Vame  Birds  of  N^  ^^ 

1  way,  that  has  not 


C'.OLDFINCH. 

C.\Rl)L"i:i.IS    C.VKI)LKF,IS. 

Char.  Forehead  and  throat  crimson  ;  cheeks  and  lower  throat  white  ; 
a-'wn  and  nape  bhick,  the  latter  being  bordered  by  a  narrow  line  of 
white;  back  brown;  wings  hhxck,  tipped  with  white  and  barred  with 
yellow;  tail-coverts  white  with  bkick  bases;  three  outer  tail-feathers 
h:  lek.  with  white  central  spots,  the  remainder  black,  tipped  with  white  ; 
iireast  white,  banded  with  brownish  buff;  flanks  bulTy ;  bellv  and  u;uler 
taii-coverts  white.     Length  about  5  inches. 

vVIv/.  In  an  orchard  or  garden,  placed  in  a  fork  of  a  tree  or  hiisii  ;  a 
compact  and  neatly  made  structure  of  f^ne  grass  and  mo-s,  lined  with 
gra-s  and  plant  down,  etc. 

/■:-s.  4-6:  dull  white  tinged  with  bhie  or  green,  spotted  aiul  .streaked 
wiih  purplish  brown  ;  0.70  X  0.50. 

Til  is  European  son<,^ster  has  been  introduced  within  recent  years. 
and  though  increasing  slowly,  appears  to  be  thorouglily  naturalized. 

it  is  most  abundant  near  Hoboken,  \.  J.,  where  a  number  wltc 
set  at  liberty  in  187S,  but  examples  have  been  taken  in  other  States. 
A  nest  and  eggs  were  discovered  in  Cambridge  some  ten  years 
a?n.  and  during  the  summer  of  i.Syo  a  nest  was  taken 'near 
Worcester,  Mass. 

bi  Great  Britain  it  is  very  common,  and  breeds  north  to  Caith- 
ness, and  one  nest  has  been  taken  on  tiie  south  side  of  Skye. 

The  young  are  fed  on  insects  and  larva> :  but  .Mr.  Saunders  says 
"the  principal  food  of  the  Ooldfinch  consists  of  seeds  uf  the  thistie. 
knapweed,  groundsel,  dock,  and  other  plants."' 

Vol.   I.  —  23 


354 


SINGING   IJIKDS. 


HOUSE    SIWRROW. 

ENULlSli    Sl'AKKOW. 
I'ASSER    IX^MKSTICL'S. 

CliAR.  General  color  gravish  brown,  the  hack  streaked  with  bkick  :  a 
nariuvv  stripe  of  white  over  tiie  eyes  ;  cheeks  with  patches  of  chestnut  and 
white  ;  sides  and  neck  wiiite  ;  throat  and  breast  black,  sometimes  washed 
with  chestnut;  wings  brown  with  white  bar;  tail  brown:  belly  dull  white. 
Female:  paler,  without  the  black  throat-jjatch.     Length  about  6  inches. 

A'fsr  Anywhere  and  of  any  material,  —  usually  a  bulky  affair,  roughly 
made  of  dry  grass  and  feathers. 

^.i^Xs.  4-7  ;  grayish  white  speckled  with  rich  brown  and  pale  lavender ; 
0.S5  X  0.60. 

This  is  anotlier  introduced  species;  but  about  //j  naturalization 
there  is,  unfortunately,  no  doubt. 

The  history  of  the  introduction  of  this  bird,  and  its  relation  to 
American  agriculture,  is  exhaustively  treated  in  a  volume  prepared 
by  Mr.  Walter  H.  IJanows,  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  C.  Hart 
IMerriam,  ornithologist  to  the  Deijartnient  of  Agriculture,  and 
issued  from  the  (Government  Printing  Office  at  Washington  in 
1889.  From  it  we  learn  that  the  first  importation  of  this  Sparrow 
was  made  by  Hon.  Nicholas  Pike,  and  the  birds  were  Uberated  in 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  in  1S51.  The  first  batcli  did  not  thrive,  so  otlu  i> 
—  about  a  hundred  —  were  brought  over  during  1852  and  1853.  In 
1854  Colonel  Rhodes,  of  (Quebec,  brouglit  a  number  from  England 
and  liberated  some  in  Portland,  Me.,  the  remainder  being  taki  n 
to  Quebec.  During  the  following  ten  years  a  few  hundred  \\<.:t\ 
brought  from  Europe  and  scattered  between  Portland  and  N.  w 
York,  .some  tiiirtv  being  turned  out  on  Ho;ton  Common.  yMxuit 
1869  a  tliousand  were  taken  to  Pliiladelphia,  and  several  cities  in 
the  interior  received  each  a  few  |)airs. 

From  these  imported  birds  have  sprung  the  hosts  of  "rufTians  in 
featiieis"  that  have  taken  possession  of  every  town  and  viilaL;c, 
from  Cape  Breton  to  Florida,  and  west  to  Kansas. 

A  few  pairs  were  taken  to  southern  (ireenland,  and  though  some 
lived  through  several  winters,  the  entire  Hock  at  last  perished. 

NoTK.  —  The  FtrKOi'EAN  Tree  Si'Akkow  {Passer  ntontanus] 
has  also  been  introduced.  A  few  years  ago  a  number  were  Iii)t.r- 
atcd  in  St.  Louis,  and  have  become  thoroughly  naturalized  thirc. 
This  bird  is  closely  related  to  thr  House  Si^arrow,  which  it  reseniljlo 
in  ap]5earance  and  in  hal)its.  Tiie  Tree  Sparrow  has  not.  hmvt  vtr. 
increased  so  rapidly  as  its  congener,  nor  proved  so  great  a  pest. 


h\  with  black  •.  a 
i  oi  chesinul  am 
jnu'limes  washfcl 
.  belly  aull^^h'»- 
,  about  6  inches. 
^Iky  affair,  roughly 

and  pale  lavender; 
its  naturalization 

nd  Us  relation  to 
V  volume  prepa'o. 
n  ot  Dv.  C.  Har 

A<M-iculture,   ana 
at  Washington  w 
on  of  this  Sparrow 
,  wore  liberate,    ^n 
,ot  thrive,  so  oth.  > 

i8;2  and  iS53-       " 

Under  being  takeu 
\  few  hundred  w^'v 
[Portland  a"^^^^''' 

,d  several  cittes  >u 

l,ostsof"rtifftansin 
V  town  and  vd\a:'t, 

Trand  though  some 
last  perished. 

I  Passer  monUvn'A 
1  number  were    n.^ 

Iv  naturalized  th  >- 
V  which  it  resembles 
Lv  has  not.  how.vcr, 
I  so  great  a  pe^t- 


REDPOLL. 

LESSER    REDl'OLL.     REDPOLL   LINNET. 
ACANIIIIS    LIXAKIA. 

Char.  Above,  brownish  gray  streaked  with  dusky;  Ti\m\>  white, 
lin.Lied  with  rose  pink  and  streaked  with  dusky;  forehead  with  iKitcli  of 
iliLp  caniiine;  wings  dusky  brown  with  two  white  Ixirs  ;  below,  while, 
Mdes  heavily  streaked  with  dusky  ;  chin  and  throat  dusky  ;  breast  deep 
ro-.e  pink,  liill  extremely  actUe  ;  in  winter  its  color  is  yellow  tiiijied  with 
Mack,  l)ut  in  sunuiicr  the  color  is  dull  blackish.  (Female  differ-  fioiu 
male  only  in  lacking  the  red  tints  on  rump  and  breast.)  Len-th  .I'j  to  5 
inches. 

■  W.f/.  In  a  low  tree  or  amid  a  tuft  of  grass  ;  comi)osed  of  dry  grass  and 
luii-s  lined  with  hair  or  feathers  or  i)lant  down. 

/•;  -J.  4-6;  white  tinged  with  green  or  blue,  spotted  with  reddish 
lu'wu  ;  0.65  X  0.50. 

'I'liese  elegant  birds,  which  only  jxiy  us  occasional  and 
transient  visits  at  distant  intervals,  are  inhabitants  of  the  whole 
Arctic  circle  to  the  confines  of  Siberia,  and  are  found  in  Kain- 
tM  hatka  and  Clreenland  as  well  as  the  colder  parts  of  Ilurope. 
.\iriving  in  roving  flocks  from  the  northern  wilds  of  Canada, 
tiuy  are  seen  at  times  in  the  western  parts  of  the  State  ()f  New 
^oIk  with  the  (ixW  of  the  first  deep  snow,  and  occasionally  \m)- 
cecd  eastward  to  the  very  city  of  New  Nork,  where  in  the 
depth  of  winter,  and  for  several  weeks,  they  have  been  seen 
Kleaning  their  scanty  food  of  various  kiivls  {;f  seeds  in  the 
giniens  of  the  town  and  suburbs.  Flocks  are  likewise  somc- 
liiucs  seen  in  the  vicinity  of  I*hiladel])hia  in  severe  winters, 
tliMiigh  at  remote  periods  :  as  according  to  Mr.  Ord  they  have 
not    visited   that    part    of    Pennsylvania    since    the    winter  of 


35^> 


SINGING  r.IRDS. 


1S13-14.  'I'hcy  apjicar  very  unsuspicious  while  feeding  in  the 
^'aniens,  or  on  the  seeds  of  the  alder-bush,  one  of  their  favor- 
ite repasts,  and  thus  engaged  alk)\v  a  near  ai)proach  while 
searching  for  their  food  in  every  posture,  and  sometimes  head 
downwards.  They  are  also  fond  of  the  seeds  of  the  pine,  the 
linden,  and  rape,  and  in  the  winter  sometimes  content  them- 
selves even  with  the  buds  of  the  alder.  Wilson  believed  he 
heard  this  species  utter  a  few  interrupted  notes,  but  nothing 
satisfactory  is  known  of  its  vocal  powers.  Mr.  Urd  remarks 
that  their  call  much  resembles  that  of  the  common  Yellow 
IJird,  to  which,  indeed,  they  are  allied.  They  are  said  to 
breed  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland,  and  to  select  the  heath 
and  furze  for  the  situation  of  their  nests,  though  they  more 
commonly  choose  alder-bushes  and  the  branches  of  the  pine. 

According  to  Richardson,  tliese  birds  are  among  the  few 
hardy  and  permanent  resitlents  in  the  fur  countries,  where  they 
may  be  seen  in  the  coldest  weather  on  the  banks  of  lakes  ami 
rivers,  hopping  among  the  reeds  and  carices  or  clinging  to  their 
stalks.  They  are  numerous  throughout  the  year  even  in  the 
most  northern  districts,  and  from  the  rarity  of  their  migrations 
into  the  United  States  it  is  obvious  that  they  are  inlluenced  by 
no  ordinary  causes  to  evacuate  the  regions  in  which  they  arc 
bred.  Famine,  in  all  probability,  or  the  scarcity  of  food,  urge-^ 
them  to  advance  towards  the  South.  It  is  certain  that  they  do 
not  forsake  their  natal  regions  to  seek  shelter  from  the  cold. 
This  season,  by  the  7th  or  8th  of  November  (1833),  before 
the  occurrence  of  any  extraordinary  cold  weather,  they  arrived 
in  this  vicinity  (Cambridge,  Mass.)  in  consiilerable  flocks,  and 
h  ive  not  paid  a  visit  to  this  quarter  before  to  my  knowledge 
fjr  10  or  12  years.  They  now  regularly  assemble  in  the  birch- 
trees  every  morning  to  feed  on  their  seeds,  in  which  employ- 
ment they  are  so  intent  that  it  is  possible  to  advance  to  the 
slender  trees  in  which  they  are  engaged  and  shake  them  off  by 
surprise  before  they  think  of  taking  wing.  They  hang  upuii 
the  twigs  with  great  tenacity,  and  move  about  while  feeding  in 
reversed  postures,  like  the  Chickadees.  After  being  shot  at 
they  only  pass  on  to  the  next  tree  and  resume  their  feeding  as 


REUruLL. 


357 


feeding  in  the 

of  their  favor- 
ipproach  while 
iumetimcs  head 
uf  the  pine,  the 

content  theuv 
Ison  believed  he 
,ies,  but  nothin- 
Ir.  Urd  remarks 
common   Yellow 
'hey  are  said  to 

select  the  heath 
lOUgh  they   more 
hes  of  the  pine, 
i  among  the  few 
ntries,  where  they 
.inks  of  lakes  and 
jr  clinging  to  their 
;  year  even  in  the 
|of  their  migrations 

are  influenced  by 

in  which  they  arc 

■city  of  food,  urges 
rtain  that  they  do 

rer  from  the  cold. 

er  (1833)'  ^^f^'' 
kther,  they  arrived 
[lerable  flocks,  and 
ito  my  knowled>-^e 
Imble  in  the  birch- 
in  which  employ- 
to  advance  to  the 
shake  them  off  by 


'I'hey 


hang  ui) 


on 


It  w 


hile  feeding  ra 


beint 


shot  ;U 


before.     They  have  a  qualHng  call  perfectly  similar  to  that 
of  the  Yellow  liird  ^Fnih^i/hi  fris/i^),  t.oir  tjcit,  or  /s/w-r,;' ,■ 
;iiid  when  cruwding  together  in  thglit  make  a  confused  chirp- 
ing 'Aw/Vy^i'// '/;.'// Va'/VVu'//,  with  a  rattling  noi.e,  and  some- 
times go  off  with  a  simultaneous  twitter.     Occasionally  they 
(IcM-end    from   their    favorite   birches   and    pick   up   sunlluwer 
seeds  and  those  of  the  various  weedy  ChcnopoJiums  growing 
111  wastes.     At  length  they  seemetl  attracted  to  the  pines  by 
the  example  of  the  Crossbills,   and  were  busily  employed    in 
collecting  their  seeds.     As  the  weather  becomes  colder  they 
also  roost  in  these  sheltering  evergreens;  and  confused  flocks 
>ire  seen  whirling  about  capriciously  in  (juest  of  fare,  siMnetimes 
.Icseending  on  the  fruit-trees  to  {^<:A  on  their  buds  l)y  way  of 
variety.     'I'hough  thus  urged  from  their  favorite  regions  in  the 
north,  there  appeared  no  obvious  reason  for  their  movements, 
.IS  we   founil   them  fat  and  not  driven  to  migrate  from  any 
iinininent  necessity. 

In  Xuttairsday  but  two  forms  of  Redpoll  wore  rccoicnized  by 
naturalists,  — //;/.^;7<^  and  cancsuns  {=  cxilipcs):  but  iiijw  tliue 
arc  live,  —  or  six,  if  we  count  the  hypothetical  hrc^ostcrii.  Similar 
as  these  appear  to  the  casual  observer,  an  expert  can  readily  divide 
tlKin  when  examjiles  of  the  different  races  are  compared,  lliou-h  it 
is  sometimes  difficult  to  refer  a  specimen  with  accuracy  unles^s  so 
C()in])ared. 

'I'lie  habitat  of  true  Ihiaria  is  now  -riven  as  "  northern  portions 
of  northern  hemisphere,  excepting  Greenland,  in  North  America  ; 
niit^rating  south  in  winter  to  about  40°." 


XoTE.  —  HoLRCELL's  Rkdi'oli.  {Acautliis  linaria  /wlkvl/ii)  is 
lai-vr  than  the  type.  ~  length  5  to  5'/  inches.  -  with  a  propor- 
tionately larger  bill.  It  is  usually  restricted  to  the  northern  coasts 
"I  l.uropc  and  Asia,  but  examples  have  been  taken  in  Alaska  and 
at  (iiiebec. 

The  (iKKATF.u  Rr-.i)i'oi.i.  {Acanfhis  linaria  rostrata)  is  still 
laru'cr.  —  length  5  %  to  5  V  inches.  and  the  ,  <,!,„  s  are  darker,  with 
tlH'  under  parts  more  broadly  .striped.  It  is  found  in  southern 
('recnland  in  summer,  and  in  winter  mi-^rates  si)aringlv  south  to 
Acw  England,  and  west  to  Manitoba  and  northern  Illinois. 


their  feeding 


as 


•;')i    »,-   ..-. 


~^,.->**^.^: 


•f-siif 


..  ,^-/(,v*.i  .r--*;  ■^^\:'>- 


?     r. 


HOARV    Ri:i)POLL. 

MEAI.V    KKDI'OLL. 
AfAX'lIlIS    11()KNI;.M.\N1I    I.XIMPES. 

Char.  Above,  dull  white  or  pale  brownish  white,  streaked  with  dusky 
brown  ;  rump  white  unstreakcd,  —  in  the  male  usually  washed  with  pink; 
wings  dusky  brown  with  two  white  bar;i;  below,  dull  white  sparse  Iv 
streaked  with  dusky;  chin  and  throat  dusky;  l)reast  delicate  rose  pink. 
Length  4,14  to  5  inches. 

Similar  to  A.  //>iar/\i,  but  colors  paler,  — the  brown  largely  replaced  by 
grav,  and  the  red  of  a  paler  shade  and  more  restricted. 

AVst.  Tn  a  low  tree  or  on  the  ground  ;  composed  of  grass  and  twi:,'^ 
lined  with  feathers. 

Aw*'  3~5  '  white  tinged  with  blue  or  green,  spotted  with  reddish 
brown  ;  0.65  X  0.50. 

This  species,  so  nearly  allied  to  the  Inst,  is  met  with  paiily 
in  the  same  remote  boreal  rei^ions  in  the  summer,  but  is  d' 
much  more  rare  oreurrence  ;  it  is  also  found  in  the  territniv 
of  Oregon,  and  stragglers  have  been  obtained  as  far  soul li 
New  Jersey  and  New  \'ork.  In  Maine  it  is  less  rare.  'ITi' 
birds  have  a  note  very  similar  to  the  last  species,  but  distinct,  | 
They  are  full  of  activity  and  caprice  while  engaged  in  feeding 
making  wide  circles  and  deep  undulations  in  their  flight.     I  ik;  1 


TOWIIKK. 


359 


Titmice  also,  thcv  frequently  feed  anrl  hang  to  the   twii^s  in 
reversed  jxistures. 

This  form  suiiiiiiors  in  the  Arctic  regions,  and  in  winter  niii,'rati\s 
soulinvanl,  a  few  exaniplrs  rcu(  Jiin;^  I'nc  nortlicrn  border  ol  tiie 
Lnited  States. 

NoTK.  —  The  Cki.ia-i.am)  Ki;nroi,i,  (.Jtani/tis  hornnnatinii) 
is  larger  than  dMvV//.'^-,  —  Icn-th  I'/t  Vt  6;j  in.  lies.  It  Ijrceds  in 
(ireenland  and  the  eastern  p.ii  t  of  Arctic  America,  and  in  winter 
ranL:;es  as  far  .soiitli  as  Laljradm-, 

liRKWSTKu's  Lin\i;t  {.Icaitllus  brez4.-il.rti)  is  a  -Kidi).)!!" 
without  any  red  on  its  ih.II  ;  it  dilRrx  aI-.o  iv,\n  tlie  otlier  forms  in 
laeking  tin;  (liisl<y  spot  on  the  tliroat  aiwl  in  h.ivin;;  a  portion  of  its 
phmiage  lin-^ed  with  yellow,  TJjc  \\\t^:  sj/cf  im.n  was  takm  at 
Waltham,  Mass.,  in  1.S70,  and  remains  u:i3'j';..-.  Tlie  A.  < ).  V.  have 
jilaeed  the  name  in  that  "hxk-up"  for  Mi.->i>icious  tharaeters,  the 
"  hypothetieal  list." 


,e,  streaked  with  <lusl.v 

L    duU   while   siKU>.U 
■^ast  delicate  rose  V'uk. 


a  bv 

and  t^vi;i- 
spotted  with  rea>ii-l 


l,wnlar:-cly  replace 

IcU'd. 

l,scd  of  ^>ass 


L   is  met  with  vavtly  ' 

u'  summer,  but  i<  "' 

Ld  in  the  terriwvy 

ined  as  far  south  :. 

V,  less  tare.  \  ^'-^ ' 
Lecdes,  but  distuKt, 
I  engaged  in  fcednu:, 

Sn  their  Bight.    1  >i^- 


To\vHi:i;. 

GROUND    RoniN.    CHKWIS'K. 
Pll'II.O    l.KVlllKijJ'UJUAJ.'ill,^.. 

''liAR.  r.lack  with  white  hclly  and  I>ay  Mdc*  and  X'cnt  ;  outer  tail- 
f.atliLTs  jiartly  wliite  ;  wiiite  spot  on  wing;  jrj>  rtd  Female  and  young 
tawnv  Ijnnvn  where  the  adult  male  is  Ijlack. 

iWst.  Near  the  margin  of  wocxllaiid  «>r  in  an  '>V'jri,'rown  pasture  ; 
usually  placed  on  the  ground  aiul  eoiicealed  in  a  t«sr't  of  gra.-.s  fir  luu.^h- 
ln.ai).or  under  a  log  or  bush,  — s(iniLtini<-s  fa-ttntd  !--»»  low  Inish  ;  loosely 
iiuule  of  dry  leaves,  grape-vines,  weed-stem«,  aj;d  ;:;ra-,,,  lined  witii  tine 
grass,  roots,  or  pine-needles. 

/^^V-f-  4-6;  dull  white  tiiickly  marked  wit!)  fine  >j>'/t-t  -.t  warm,  rcd(li--h 
Ijrown  and  lilac;  sometimes  tlie  marks  are  bokk-r ,  0.95  /  0.75 

This  is  a  very  common,  humble,  and  iinsuspirions  hini, 
duelling  commonly  in  thick  dirk  woo!,  and  their  borders, 
living  low,  and  frequenting  thi(  kcts  near  -^trenms  of  water, 
where  it  spends  much  lime  in  s(  rat<  hin-/  '\\>  the  withered 
leaves  for  worms  and  their  larwe,  aixl  is  prirtictilarly  V)\\^\  of 
wire-worms  (or  /////),  as  well  as  various  kinrl,  of  seeds  and 
snivel.  Its  rustling  scratch  among  the  leufy  r,Mri>et  of  the 
ton  St   is  often   the  only  indication  uf  its  j>rc-K:nce,  excepting 


360 


SIN(;iN(i    llIkDS. 


now  and  then  a  call  njion  its  ni.Uc  (ffw-H'cr,  fo7i>-7i'i'c,  foio- 
iiiii'/}f  with  wiiich  it  is  almost  (i instantly  assot:i;itLil.  W'hik' 
thus  liusiiy  engaged  in  foraging  for  subsistence,  it  may  be 
wai<  lied  and  approached  without  showing  any  alarm  ;  and 
taking  a  look  often  at  the  observer,  without  suspicion,  it 
scratches  up  the  leaves  as  before,  'i'his  call  of  recognition  is 
uttere<l  in  a  low  and  somewhat  siid  tone,  and  if  not  soon 
answered  it  l)ecomes  louder  and  interrogatory,  hno-7i>cc  Un^uc  f 
and  terminates  often  wilii  /invctf.  These  birds  are  accused 
of  sometimes  visiting  the  i)ea-fields  to  feed,  but  occasion  no 
sensible  damage. 

In  the  pairing  season  and  throughout  the  period  of  incuba- 
tion the  male  fre(|uently  mounts  to  the  top  of  si^me  bush 
amidst  the  thickets  where  he  usually  passes  the  time,  and  from 
hence  in  a  clear  and  sonorous  vcjice  chants  forth  his  simple 
guttural  and  monotonous  notes  for  an  hour  or  so  at  a  time, 
while  his  faithful  mate  is  confined  to  her  nest.  This  (puaint 
and  somewhat  pensive  song  often  sounds  like  /'s/i\/  wi/ir  /<  /r 
/i  /<  /r,  or  Vv(/-u7  /(>',  /r  /r  '/r  V/',  —  the  latter  part  a  sort  of 
<iuaint  and  deliberate  (juivering  trill  ;  sometimes  it  sounds  like 
'I'hl  tihcn-  'rh  'r/i,  rrh  'lot,  then  'i'-iCW  (wrc  /'  ts/irr'  ;•';•,  also 
<f  sc  yo,  xa  \\a  \\a  'ya  'ya ;  the  latter  notes,  attempted  to  be 
exi)ressed  by  whistled  and  contracted  consonant  syllables,  are 
trilled  with  this  sound. 

(Iround  Robins,  sometimes  also  called  TsJir-icinf^  and  Pn- 
701 II /^',  from  another  of  their  notes,  are  general  inhabitants  of 
Canada  and  the  I'nited  States  even  to  the  base  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  and  the  peninsula  of  Idorida,  in  all  t)f  which  region>, 
except  the  last,  with  Louisiana  and  the  contiguous  countries, 
they  pass  the  summer  and  rear  their  young,  migrating,  how 
ever,  from  the  Northern  and  Middle  States  in  October,  and 
returning  again  about  the  middle  or  close  of  April,  according 
to  the  advancement  of  the  season,  at  which  time  also  the 
males  usually  precede  the  arrival  of  their  mates.  They  pas- 
the  winter  generally  to  the  south  of  Pennsylvania,  antl  are  then 
very  aljundant  in  all  the  milder  States  in  the  Union. 

They  are  said  to  show  some  adihess  at  limes  in  concealiii.; 


TOW  I  IKE. 


alarm;    i^»^^^ 

s\is\)'ui*>i^'    it 

rcconniiiun  is 

a   if  not  siK)n 

lis  are  accusal 
,ut  occasion  no 

criod  of  inculuv- 
,  of   SOUK-   \hi^^^ 
..  lime,  ami  from 
forth  his  simple 
or  so  at  a  lime, 
csl.     'I'^^i^  *l'^^''''^'- 

Iter  part  a  sorU't 
ucs  il  sovmils  like 
/'  tilu'i'  >'r,  also 
attem\)teM\  to  b^' 
iKint  syllables,  are 

l/„-7c'/;//v  ;^n'^  ^''■'". 
Iral  inha\)itanis  i.l 
Tase  of  the  Rocky 
]  of  which  region> 
liuuous  countries. 
1,  migrating,  bow 
'  in  October,  ami 
April,  accordinu 
Ih   time  also  the 
lues,     'rbey  P^^^ 
Inia,  and  are  then 

Tnion. 
V.^  in  cimcealmi 


301 


their  nest,  which  is  f.xe.l  „n  the  gronn.I  in  a  dry  and  elevated 
situation  and  sunk  beneath  the  surface  amony  the  fallen  leaves 
sometimes  under  the  shelter  of  a  .small  bush,  thicket,  i.i  1 
A«<<.rdini,r  to  the  ( ..nveihence  of  the  site,  it  is  formed',,!  ,] 
.nt  material.s,  sometimes,  according  to  Wilson    b 


•riiT. 
iffer- 


leaves,  strips  of  grape-vine  bark,  lined  with  I 


leing  made  of 


me  stalks  of  dry 


gra-sK,  and  occasionally  in  part   hidden  with  hav  or  herl 


Most  of  the  nests  in  tlii 


».ige 


\vt,()ds  without  any  other  protection  ll 


s  vicinity  are  made  in  solitary  dry  puu 


accidental   fallen   leaves 
snhstantial,  are  usually  sligluU 


lian   loine  small  jjii^li  or 
;    and   the   external   materials,    rather 


agglutinated  strips  of  red  crd 


ir 

1  a   neat   lining  of  the  same  and 

,'  sometimes  made  wholly  of  the 

nes  elevated  from  the  ground  ]>v 


k,  or  withered  grass  will 
f.illen  pine  leaves;  the  linini 
latter.  The  nest  is  aKso  at  ti 
a  layer  of  coarse  leaf-stalks  such  as  those  of  the  hi(-korv.      "i 


first  brooil  are 


raised   early  in  June,  and  a  second 


lie 


Ol) 


>erved  in  the  month  of  July  ;  b 


is  often 


ut  in  this  part  of  New  !■ 


ng- 


land  they  seldom  raise  more  than  one.  The  pair  show  great 
solicitude  for  the  safety  of  their  young,  Ihittiring  in  the  path 
and  pretemling  lameness  with  louil  chiri.ing  when  their  nest  is 
too  closely  examined. 

The  eastern  form  of  the  Towlioc  is  not  found  west  of  .Minmsota 
Kansa.s,  and  Texas.  In  the  more  northern  and  unstitlfd  poitioii.s 
of  New  England  it  is  very  rare  or  al,sent.  It  is  (oininon  w  .Man 
ilo!)a  and  southern  Ontario,  lait  rare  in  Oudjce  ;  and  one  examnle 
captured  near  St.  John,  N.  15..  in  iSSi.  is  the  oniv  known  instance 
of  Its  occurrence  in  the  Maritime  Provinces. 


N.,Ti.:,_The  White-evrd  Towhkk  K'^ipHo  crvthrophthalmus 
al/nn)  differs  from  the  northern  race  ehietiy  ni  ijeing  of  .soiiKuii.it 
smallir  size,  and  in  the  iris  heing  white  instead  oi  red. 

It  was  discovered  during  the  sjH-ing  of  iN;,,  by  Mr.  C.  J.  May 
nanl  in  Florida,  to  which  .State  it  is  restricted. 


CARDINAL, 

REDDIKD. 
Cardixalis  CARDIXALIS. 

Char.  Head  with  conspicuous  crest.  Male:  above,  brij];lit  vermi- 
lion, shaded  with  gray  on  the  back;  beneath,  paler;  forehead  and  tliroat 
black.  Female:  above,  olive  gray;  beneath,  buffy.  Young  similar  to 
female,  but  duller.     Length  about  8  to  S}i  inches. 

A'est.  In  a  variety  of  situations,  most  frecpiently  amid  a  tliiclat  of 
brambles  or  in  a  low  tree;  loosely  made  of  twigs,  strips  of  graiK-vinc. 
dry  grass,  weed-stems,  lined  with  fmc  grass  or  roots,  sometimes  with 
hair. 

'^W-''-  3-5;  ^"11  white  or  tinged  with  blue,  green,  or  buff;  si)otted 
with  reddish  brown  and  lilac;  i.oo  X  0.75. 


These  splendid  and  not  uncommon  songsters  chiefly  re 


suie 


in  the  warmer  and  more  temperate  parts  of  the  United  Statc- 
from  New  York  to  Florida,  and  a  few  stragglers  even  proccc : 
as  far  to  the  north  as  Salem  in  Massachusetts.  They  al- 
inhabit  the  Mexican  provinces,  and  are  met  with  south  as  fir 
as  Carthagena ;  adventurously  cros::ing  the  intervening  orenr.. 
they  are  likewise  numerous  in  the  little  temperate  Ijcrmtn:. 
islands,  but  do  not  apjiarently  exist  in  any  of  the  West  Indif;. 
As  might  be  supposed,  from  the  range  already  stated,  the  Rdi- 
birds  are  not  uncommon  throughout  Louisiana,  Missouri,  aiiii| 
Arkansas  Territory.     Most  of  diose  which  pass  the  sumiiu'r:: 


CARDINAL. 


363 


above,  bright  verm.- 

forehead  and  t\>roat 

Young  similar  to 

,lv  amid  a  tiuckct  oi 

strips  of  graiK-vmc^ 

)ots,  sometimes  wun 


leen, 


or  buff;  si'OiK. 


Lers  chiefly  resuk' 
Ithe  United  Siatc- 
Ikrs  even  proccc'. 
jusetts.     They  al.n 

t  with  sonth  as  t-^i  1 
J  intervening  ocean.  | 
lemperate  r.ennu".:- 
loftheWestlnaK;! 

Idystated.theRca- 

liana,  Misso^^"''':'| 
pass  the  sum»iorr.: 


the  cooler  and  Middle  States  retire  to  the  South  at  the  com- 
nienccment  of  winter ;  though  a  few  linger  in  the  sheltered 
swamps  of  Pennsylvania  and  near  the  shores  of  the  Delaware 
almost  through  the  winter.     They  also,  at  this  season,  probably 
assemble  towards  the  sea-coast  from  the  west,  in  most  of  the 
Southern  States,  where  roving  and  skulking  timid  families  are 
now  seen  flitting  silently  through  thickets  and  swampy  woods, 
eager  alone  to  glean  a  scanty  subsistence,  and  defentl  them- 
selves from   prowling  enemies.     At  all  times,   however,   they 
appear  to  have  a  predilection  for  watery  groves  and  siiaded 
running  streams,  abounding  with  evergreens  and  fragrant  mag- 
nolias, in  which  they  are  so  frecpient  as  to  be  almost  concomi- 
tant with  the   scene.     But  though  they  usually  live  only  in 
families  or  pairs,  and  at  all  times  disperse  into  these  selective 
groujis,  yet  in  severe  weather,  at  sunset,  in  South  Carolina,  I 
observed  a  flock  passing  to  a  roost  in  a  neighboring  swamp 
and  bushy  lagoon,  which  continued,  in  lengthened  file,  to  fly 
o\cr  my  head  at  a  considerable  height  for  more  than  twenty 
minutes  together.     The  beautiful  procession,  illumined  ])y  the 
last  rays  of  the  settirg  sun,  was  incomparably  splendid  as  the 
shifting  shadowy  lighi   at  quick  internals  flashed   upon    their 
brilliant  livery.     They  had  been  observed  to  pass  in  this  man- 
ner to  their  roost  for  a  considerable  time,  and,  at  daybreak, 
tluy  were  seen  again  to  proceed  and  disperse  for  subsistence. 
How  long  this  timid  and  gregarious  habit  continues,  I  cannot 
prdcnd  to  say;  but  by  the  first  week  in  February  the  song  of 
the  Redbird  was  almost  daily  heard.     As  the  season  advances, 
nn mg  pairs,  living,  as  it  were,  only  with  and  for  each  other,  flit 
from  place  to  place ;  and  following  also  their  favorite  insect  or 
vegetable  fare,  many  proceed  back  to  the  same  cool  region  in 
whi.  h  they  were  bred,  and  from  wliich  they  were  reluctantly 
driven  ;  while  others,  impelled  by  interest,  caprice,  and  adven- 
ture, seek  to  establish  new  families  in  the  most  remote  limits  of 
their  migration.     Some  of  these  more  restless  wanderers  occa- 
sionilly,  though  rarely,  favor  this  part  of  New  I'lngland  with  a 
Vbit.     After  listening  with  so  much  delight  to  the  lively  fife  of 
the  splendid  Cardinal,  as  I  travelled  alone  through  the  deep  and 


3^4 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


wild  solitudes  which  prevail  over  the  Southern  States,  and  bid, 
as  I  thought,  perhaps  an  eternal  adieu  to  the  sweet  voice  of  niv 
charming  comjjanions,  what  was  my  surprise  and  pleasure,  on 
the  7th  of  May,  to  hear,  for  the  first  time  in  this  State,  and  in 
the  Botanic  (iarden,  above  an  hour  together,  the  lively  and 
loud  song  of  this  extpiisite  vocalist,  whose  voice  rose  abcn  r 
every  rival  of  the  feathered  race,  and  rung  almost  in  echoes 
through  the  blooming  grove  in  which  he  had  chosen  his  re- 
treat. In  the  Southern  States,  where  these  birds  everywhere 
breed,  they  become  familiarly  attached  to  gardens,  which,  as 
well  as  cornfields,  afibrd  them  a  ready  means  of  subsistence ; 
they  are  also  fond  of  the  seeds  of  most  of  the  orchard  fruits, 
and  are  said  occasionally  to  prey  upon  bees. 

The  lay  of  the  Cardinal  is  a  loud,  mellow,  and  pleasingly 
varied  whistle,  delivered  with  ease  and  energy  for  a  consider- 
able time  together.  To  give  it  full  effect,  he  chooses  thj  sum- 
mit of  some  lofty  branch,  and  elevating  his  melodious  voice  in 
powcrfiil  as  well  as  soothing  and  touching  tones,  he  listens, 
delighted  as  it  were,  with  the  powers  of  his  own  music,  at 
intervals  answered  and  encouraged  by  the  tender  responses  of 
his  mate.  It  is  thus  the  gilded  hours  of  his  existence  pass 
away  in  primeval  delight,  until  care  and  necessity  break  in 
ujion  his  contemplative  reveries,  and  urge  him  again  to  puisr.e 
the  sober  walks  of  active  life. 

The  song  of  the  Redbird,  like  that  of  so  many  others, 
though  possessed  of  great  originality,  often  consists  in  part  of 
favorite  borrowed  and  slightly  altered  phrases.  It  would  be 
a  difficult  and  fruitless  task  to  enumerate  all  the  native  nule^ 
delivered  by  this  interesting  songster ;  a  few  may  be  perhnps 
excused  by  those  who  wish,  in  their  rural  walks,  to  be  made,  in 
any  way,  acquainted  with  the  language  of  the  feathered  vocal- 
ists that  surround  them.  All  the  tones  of  the  Cardinal  are 
whistled  mut-h  in  the  manner  of  the  human  voice.  Late  in 
February,  while  travelling  in  Alabama,  I  heard  one  crying 
woo/if,  700/it  7L<olit  ivolit,  then  in  a  ([uicker  tone  butsli  /.v/'^ 
butsh  hi'itsh,  and  ^tshoinoay  fs/ioo'vay  tihooway.  At  an-iiln.: 
time  the  song  was   'wit  a'wit,   Uli'i ;  then   tslicvi  tshcvt   '///. 


CARDINAL. 


365 


:.'hott'whoit^whoit^h'u  (the  ^whoit  an  cxa<-t  human  whistle 
,Mi,l  the  teu  tenderly  emphatic).     Another  bird  called  tco  tio 
f.o,  tsJwoc  tshooe  tshooe  tshooe,  then  tea  tco  tco  ho  alone,  or 
'K'oit  '70011  'u'oit  'K'oi/,  with  the  last  word  delivered  slower  and 
)n  a  suiknig,  delicaiely  plaintive  tone.     These  phrases  were 
also  answered  in  sympathy  by  the  female,  at  a  little  .listanee 
iij)  the  meandering  brook  where  they  were  engaged  in  collect- 
ing their  food.     In  Florida,  about  the  12th  of  March,  I  heard 
a  N-ery  fine    Redbird    singing  '7ohUfoo  7.nttoo  7,u/oo  'lou/doo 
He   began  low,  almost  in  a  whisper,  but  very  clearly  articu- 
lated, and  gradually  raised  his  voice  to  loudness,  in  the  manner 
of  the  Nightingale.     He  now  changed  the  strain  into  'rktu 
-.cut  unit  7i'ilt  7vilt;    then    \ictu   tshooe   'ts/iooc  tshooe  tshooe 
aticrwards  ///  ///  ^rictu,  and  -rictu  iu  tu,  then  varying  't^hoocc 
dr.,  m  a  lower  key.     i)n  approaching  this  bird,  to  see  and 
hear  him  more  distinctly,  he  exhibited  his  anger  bv  scolding  in 
a  hoarse  tone  almost  like  that  of  a  s.iuirrel,  and  from  the  sea- 
son. ^m\  absence  of  respomlence  in  the  female,  I   imagine  he 
alr.i.ly  had  a  nest  in  the  neighboring  thicket.     The  bin!,  which 
irc-iuented  the  IJotanic  harden  for  several  days,  in  the  morn- 
nm  sang  fearlessly  and  loudly,  but  at  other  times  tlv  pair  hid 
themselves  amongst  the  thickest  bushes,  or  descended  to  the 
ground  to  feed  among  the  grass  and  collect  insects  and  worms  • 
nou-  and  then  however,  in  an  undertone,  as  if  afn.id  of  attrict- 
nig  notice,  he  whispered  to  his  mate  tea  teu  tn},  7.>oif,  '^voif 
"V//,  elevating  his  tone  of  recognition  a  little  at  the  close  of 
the  call,  and  going  over  other  of  the  usual  phrases  in  the  sime 
^vhispcnng  and  slenderly  rising  voice.     About  the  4th  of  July 
the  >:une  pair,  apparently,  paid  us  a  parting  visit,  and  the  male' 
^^i  with  great  energy,  '/r.'  t7o\  '7,rto  \vctd  ^rorto  '7octd  '7octo 
•^■■uf.  then  7c>aifr,p  7oaVnp  7oaVi,p  7i'a1tup,  tshoro  tshoro  t.ho7c> 
A//.r..  tsho7o.     On  whistling  any  of  these  notes  within  hearin- 
"t  the(  ardinal,  a  response  is  almost  certain,  as  this  affectionate 
recognition  is  frequently  answered  bv  the  female.     His  phrase 
nwy  also  be  altered  at  will,  by  whistling  some  other  than  that 
|J|huh  he  repeats,  as  he  often  immediately  answers  in  the  call 
^e  hears,  supposing  it  to  be  that  of  his  approaclung  mate. 


366  . 


-SIXCJIXG   151 RDS. 


On  their  arrival  in  the  Middle  States,  in  spring,  violent  con- 
tests sometimes  ensue  between  the  unmated  and  jealous  male>. 
When  the  dispute  is  for  the  present  closed,  the  pair,  probably 
for  greater  security,  and  tlreading  a  recurring  cjuarrel  of  doubt- 
ful issue,  wander  off  to  a  remote  distance  from  their  usual 
abode,  and  in  this  way,  no  doubt,  occasionally  visit  countrit,-, 
but  little  frequented  by  the  rest  of  their  species.     Early  ui 
May,   it  seems,   in   Pennsylvania,  according  to  Wilson,   tluy 
begin  to  j)repare  their  nests,  which  are  often  placed  in  an  ever- 
green bush,  cedar,  laurel,  or  holly.     They  usually  raise  two 
broods  in  the  sexson.     As  they  are  so  easily  domesticated  im- 
mediately after  lieing  caught  in  trap  cages,  ii  is  unnecessary  to 
raise  them  from  the  nest.     By  this  kind  of  unnatural  confine- 
ment, the  brilliant  color  of  the  male  is  found  sometimes  tu 
fiide  until  it  becomes  of  a  pale  whitish  red.     They  live,  how- 
ever, long  in  confinement,  and  an  instance  is  known  of  one 
which  had  survive«l  ioT  21  years.     In  the  cage,  they  have  not 
that  variety  of  song  which  they  exhibit  in  their  native  wilds; 
and   this,  jmlging   from  the  frequent  repetition   of  the   same 
phrase,  would  apf>ear  to  be  a  monotonous  performance,  if  the 
variety  of  exprejsiion,  tone,  and  key  did  not  perpetually  relieve 
and   enhance  the  character  of  the  lay.     His  song  also  con- 
tinues for  6  or  S  months  in  the  year,  ami  is,  even,  as  amonc; 
the   Thnishes,  more   lively   in  wet   weather,    the    sadnesr^  uf 
Nature,  softening  ami  soothing  the  tender  vocalist  into  a  li\ely, 
pathetic,  and  hannonious  revery.     So  highly  were  these  bird? 
esteemed  for  their  melody  that,  according  to  (lemelli  Careri, 
the  Sjjaniards  of  Havanna,  in  a  time  of  public  distress  aui! 
scarcity,  botiirh*  <r}  many  of  these  birds,  with  which  a  vi^sel 
was  partly  freighted,  from  Florida,  that  the  sum  expended,  at 
10  dollars  ajjicce,  amounted   to  no  less  than   iS,ooo  dollars! 
Indeed,  Latham  admits  that  the  notes  of  our  Cardinal  "an 
almost  equal  to  those  of  the  Nightingale,"  the  sweetest  feath- 
ered miustrel  of  I'iurope.     The  style  of  their  performance  i;. 
however,  wholly  diftVrent.     The  bold,  martial   strains  of  the 
Redbird,  though   relieved   by  tender  and    exquisite   touehe;, 
pobscbs  nut  the  enchanting  pathos,  the   elevated  and  \arieii 


EVENING  GROSIJLAK. 


36; 


expression  of  the  far-flxmed  Philomel,  nor  yet  those  contrasted 
umt-'s,  which,  in  the  solemn  stillness  of  the  growing  night,  fall 
at  times  into  a  soothing  whisper,  or  slowly  rise  and  (juicken 
into  a  loud  and  cheering  warble.  A  strain  of  almost  senti- 
mental tenderness  and  sadness  i)ervades  by  turns  the  song  of 
thr  Nightingale  ;  it  Hows  like  a  torrent,  or  dies  away  like  an 
e(ho;  his  varied  ecstasies  poured  to  the  i>ale  moonbeams, 
now  meet  with  no  resi)onse  but  the  sighing  zephyr  or  the  ever- 
murmuring  brook.  The  notes  of  our  Cardinal  are  as  full  of 
hilarity  as  of  tender  expression  ;  his  whistling  call  is  uttered  in 
the  broad  glare  of  day,  and  is  heard  ])redominant  over  most  of 
the  feathered  choir  by  which  he  is  surrounded.  His  respond- 
ini,'  mate  is  the  perpetual  companion  of  all  his  joys  and  ciues; 
simple  and  content  in  his  attachment,  he  is  a  stranger  to 
capricious  romance  of  feeling,  and  the  shades  of  melancholy, 
hdwever  feeble  and  transient,  find  no  harbor  in  his  preoc- 
cupied affections. 

The  Cardinal  occurs  regularly  but  sparin-^Hy  in  southern  New 
Knuhuul  and  it  has  been  occasionally  seen  in  iMassaeluisetts  and 
northward.  Two  examples  visited  Halifax.  X.  S.  in  1871.  It  is 
quite  common  in  Ohio,  and  has  been  taken,  across  the  lake,  in 
Ontario. 


EVENING    G  R  O  S  B  E  A  K. 

COCCOTHRAUSTES    \  FSl'l-.R  TINA. 

Ci'\K.  Dusky  oh"v.iceous,  shading  to  yellowish  on  the  rump;  fore- 
head, hne  over  the  eyes,  and  iiiuler  tail-coverts,  yellow;  crown,  win--, 
and  tail  black  ;  secondaries  mostly  white  ;  Mil  greenish  vellow,  con.spieii- 
oiisly  large.  Female  ditlers  slightly  from  the  male,  but  is  readily  identi- 
fied    Length  about  7 '2  to  S  inches. 

.\V.7.  In  the  dec])  forest,  usually  on  a  liranch  of  a  tall  tree,  sometimes 
inlnv  bush;  composed  of  twigs  and  ronis,  lim-d  with  rn,A<  or  hair. 

/;.,:,x     4-?;  pale  dull  green,  marked  with  jialc  bmwii  si)ots. 

This  beautiful  species  inhabits  the  sdliindcs  of  the  North- 
«-estcrn  interior,  being  met  with  from  the  (.■xticmitv  of  the 
Michipin  'lerritory  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  It  is  not  1111- 
comninn  towards  the  upper  extremity  of  Lake  Superior  and 


368 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


the  borders  of  Athabasca  Lake ;  to  the  east  of  these  limits 
these  birds  appear  to  be  only  transient  visitors  in  spring  ami 
fall.  They  arc  common  inhabitants  of  the  fur  countries,  and 
particularly  of  the  maple  woods  of  the  Saskatchewan,  where 
they  do  not  arrive  from  the  South  before  the  commencement 
of  the  month  of  June.  In  the  pine  woods  of  Oregon  (accord- 
ing to  i\Ir.  Townsend)  numerous  flocks  are  seen  about  the  mid- 
dle of  May,  and  at  this  time  they  are  very  tame  and  unsuspicicnis, 
moving  about  in  considerable  numbers  throughout  the  whole 
of  the  day,  and  seem  no  way  given  to  retiring  before  sunset. 
Their  ordinary  note  while  feeding  consists  of  a  single  rather 
screaming  call.  At  other  times,  particularly  about  mid-day,  the 
male  from  the  branches  of  some  tall  pine-tree  utters  a  single 
warbling  note  much  like  the  internipted  beginning  of  the 
Robin's  song,  but  not  so  sweet.  They  feed  upon  the  seeds 
of  the  pine  and  other  trees,  alighting  upon  the  large  limbs, 
and  proceed  by  a  series  of  hops  to  the  very  extremities  of 
the  branches.  They  also  occasionally  devour  the  larvae  of  ants, 
and  probably  other  kinds  of  insects. 

The  Evening  Grosbeak  occurs  regularly  in  winter  in  Wisconsin, 
Illinois,  Iowa,  and  Micliigan,  and  occasionally  in  Ohio  and  Ontario. 
During  the  latter  part  of  the  winter  of  1S89-90  numbers  wca 
seen  eastward  to  Montreal  and  the  New  England  States. 

Its  nesting  habits  are  almost  unknown. 


ROSK-IJREASTED   GROSliEAK. 

H.VIilA    LUnoVICIAXA. 
n"  '«I  01,  the  l,rc;„t.     |.c„,„l,  jK  „',  s.4  l,,cl' ",  "'  "''"'  ■"■"""  • 

■ll.e  remote  Northwestern  Territ„ries  of  ,l,c  r„i„„  c.'mcl, 
..ceool  regions  towards  the  Rocky  .M„„„„i„,    ,,,      '   i 
b    10  genernl  residence  of  the  Rose-hre.ste,l  firosle.k 

mtenor  of  Pennsylvnn,,i.     ^fr.  Say  ,nct  with  it  in  tl,e 

*-^i..nhe.tit..dei:^„».na^.,ai;:j:::  ij:!- 

=       N  wfonndlan,,,     ft  has  hkewise  been  seen  in  Afe.ico 

Ae  0    ,    Xf  >       •  '"'•■  "°  ''""'^''  '''  ''"'•^■'  "^"^"  -K-"^.  ««1 

t   i,    ,  ,,,„e  „,„ters,  and  is  then  transientlv  seen  in  pair, 

>   ot   Its  range.     It   ,s  thus  seen  orcasionallv  in  the 
>' 'I..  I.  —  ->  1 


3;o 


SINGIXC;   BIRDS. 


vicinity  of  Pliiladelphia,  in  the  State  of  New  \'ork,  particularly 
along  the  borders  of  Lake  Ontario,  and  in  Connecticut,  but 
rarely  in  this  i)art  of  New  I^iglaml.  IVnnant  speaks  of  ii> 
arrival  in  the  State  of  New  York  in  May,  where  it  has  a  nest  of 
5  eggs,  and  then  retires  in  August.  It  is  also  unknown  in  tlu 
Southern  States. 

My  frieml  Mr.  Cooper  remarks  that  though  this  s])ecies  is 
rare  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York,  a  few  probably  breed  in  the 
woods  of  the  Hudson,  as  at  Tappan,  30  miles  up  that  river,  it 
is  frecpicntly  seen  in  the  cherry-trees  in  the  month  of  Jum, 
and  is  said  to  be  common  in  the  forests  along  the  south  shore 
of  Lake  Erie,  and  usually  breeds  there.  It  thrives  very  will 
in  a  cage,  is  a  most  melodious  and  indefatigable  warbler,  fre- 
quently in  fine  weather,  as  in  its  state  of  freedom,  passing  a 
great  part  of  the  night  in  singing,  with  all  the  varied  and  touch- 
ing tones  of  the  Nightingale. 

While  thus  earnestly  engaged,  it  seems  to  mount  on  ti]>toL' 
in  an  ecstasy  of  enthusiasm  and  delight  at  the  unrivalled  har- 
mony of  its  own  voice.  The  notes  are  wholly  warbled,  now 
loud,  clear,  and  vaulting  with  a  (luerulous  air  ;  then  perhajjs 
sprightly;  and  finally  lower,  tender,  and  ])athetic.  In  short, 
I  am  not  ac(iuainted  with  any  of  our  birds  superior  in  soim 
to  the  present,  with  the  solitary  exception  of  our  ()ri)lu\iii 
Mocking  Bird. 

The  Louisiana  Grosbeak  is  fed  with  the  usual  kinds  of  bird- 
seed, and  in  its  wild  state  seems  to  be  particularly  foml  oi 
the  kernels  of  the  sour-gum  berries ;  it  probably  also  krd- 
ui)on  the  berries  of  the  juniper,  which  abound  in  the  region- 
it  usually  inhabits. 

Though  somewhat  local  in  its  distribution,  this  attractive  Imv: 
occurs  regularly  throughout  the  Eastern  States,  but  is  unconimnii 
in  Maine.  New  Hampshire,  and  Vermont.  It  is  found  in  soim 
parts  of  New  Brunswick,  Nova  Scotia,  and  Quebec,  and  is  quiu 
common  in  Ontario,  and  abundant  in  Manitoba. 

Though  generally  selecting  a  secluded  spot  for  nesting,  a  \rx' 
will  occasionally  wander  away  from  the  forest  and  thicket,  and  <.vl: 
build  in  the  heart  of  a  town.  In  1890  a  nest  was  built  and  a  I  ion: 
raised  not  a  hundred  yards  from  where  I  am  penning  these  wordi. 


HLUE  GROSCEAK. 


371 


jrarticulaily 
.ccticut.  \)ui 
peaks  of  U> 
has  a  nest  ol 
nown  in  Uh 


—  almost  within  the  shadow  of  Memorial  Hall.  Tiio  nest  was 
laid  upon  a  hranch  that  liiing  over  the  sidewalk  of  Oxford  Stixet, 
nut  more  than  ten  or  twelve  feet  from  the  liround,  the  tree  being 
ill  the  garden  adjoinini;  the  residence  of  Mr.  Francis  Foster. 


lis  species  is 
\)rced  in  the 
p  that  river,  it 
lonth  of  jvui^' 
,c  south  shore 
drives  very  nvoU 
,\e  warbler,  fre- 
dom,  passing  a 
xried  and  ton*  h- 

,iovtnt  on  ti\>toe 
.  unrivalled  har- 
[\y  warbled,  now 
lir  ;  then  perhaps 

^hetic.    m  ^i^^"'- 

superior  in  -^"^i 
of  our  Orphean 

tial  kinds  of  b'"^- 
Irticularly  fon'^  *'' 
lobably  also  tcol^ 
lul  in  the  regu)i> 

Lis  attractive  \^^- 
■  \)ut  is  uncommon 
:  is  found  in  ^onu- 
Ubcc,  and  is  'IvuK 

,  for  nesting.  M'^;' 
Ind  thicket,  and  ex u 

TsbuiUandai.vooJ 
cnning  these  Nvord^ ' 


BLUE   (IRUSnilAK. 

(liiiacA  c.i:rum:a. 

I'liAR.  ^fale  :  general  plumage  ricli  blu;,  darker  on  the  back;  feath- 
er- .ndimd  base  of  bill,  wings,  and  tail  blaci. ;  two  l)rigiu  rufous  bands 
(111  tlic  wings.  Female:  smaller;  above,  yellowish  brown;  below,  dark 
Ijulf.     Length  6/2  to  7  inches. 

.W'sf.  On  a  low  branch  of  a  tree  or  Ijush,  situated  along  the  margin  of 
;i  wood,  or  in  an  open  pasture  or  orchard,  or  by  a  roadside,  — sometimes 
ill  an  alder  swamp  or  blackberry  thicket  ;  composed  of  leaves,  weed- 
stilus,  and  grass,  lined  with  horse-hair,  roots,  or  fine  grass  ;  occasionally 
pieces  of  snake  skin  or  ncwspai)er  are  worked  into  the  exterior. 

/•  VJ'-    3-4;  light  blue ;  0.S5  X  0.65. 

This  shy  and  ahnost  solitary  species  chiefly  inhabits  the 
winner  parts  of  America  from  Ikazil  to  Virginia  ;  stragglers 
(i((  isionally  also  visit  the  lower  parts  of  I'eimsylvania  and 
New  Jersey,  and  Ilnllock  observed  them  on  the  tableland  of 
Mexico.  According  to  Wilson,  it  is  nearly  a  silent  bird,  seldom 
singing  in  the  cage,  its  usual  note  of  alarm  being  merely  a 
hui\  r/i/zc/c ;  though  at  times  its  musical  capacity  under  more 
favorable  circumstances  is  suggested  by  a  few  low  and  sweet- 
toned  notes.  It  may  be  fed  on  Indian  corn,  hemp-seed, 
inilkt,  and  the  kernels  of  several  kinds  of  berries. 

According  to  .\udubon,  these  birds  arrive  in  Louisiana 
lioul  the  middle  of  March.  They  ])roceed  through  Alabama, 
ClcurLria,  and  the  Carolinas,  in  all  which  districts  they  breed  ; 
and  although  rarely  seen  in  the  Western  States,  Mr.  Townsend 
nd  myself  met  with  them  in  May  on  the  borders  of  the 
I'latlc,  near  Scott's  IJluffs,  where  they  were  already  mated  and 
lirceding.  They  are  sometimes  met  with  along  the  Atlantic 
•oast  as  far  as  New  Jersey,  and  Audubon  found  a  nest  in  that 
•''tate  within  a  few  miles  of  Philadelphia.     Their  food  consists 


3/2 


siN(;ix(;  lUkDs. 


principally  of  dilTcrcnt  horts  of  ^^fcds  ;  tlu-y  are  also  fond  of 
those  of  rice,  and  grass  of  all  kinds.  At  tlie  period  of  breeding; 
they  sing  with  great  sweetness  and  melody. 

'i'liis  species  is  still  coiisiclcred  a  SnutliL-rn  liinl  ;  but  it  remilarly 
visits  Pennsylvania,  Kentucky,  and  Kansas,  and  lias  been  taken  in 
Massachusetts  and  New  lirunswick. 


I'URIM,!':    FINCH. 

LINNET. 
CAkl"t)l)ACUS    I'URPUKEUS. 

CnAR.  Male:  ikj  "purple;"  body  insy  crimson,  brightest  on  ihc 
head,  darkest  on  the  hael<,  palest  nn  the  breast  ;  belly  white  ;  wings  and 
tail  dusky  ;  e\ery\vhere  >ireake^l  more  nr  less  »vith  Ijruwn  and  giay. 
Female  and  young:  wilhdiit  red;  >lreaked  brown  antl  gray,  sometinii- 
with  olive  tint. 

A'cst.  Near  a  settlement  and  in  some  okl  pasture,  oi^cn  grove,  park,  ui 
orchard;  eonii)osed  of  twigs,  weed-stems,  rnots,  and  b;irk,  lined  with  liiu 
grass  or  hair. 

E^^s.  I-;;  ])ale  dull  bluish  green,  variously  marked  with  dark  brown 
and  lilac  ;  0.S5  X  o/jO. 

These  lirilliant  and  cheerful  songsters  inhabit  the  Northern 
and  Western  States  during  the  summer,  where  they  rear  their 
young.  They  ajipear  to  have  a  great  pre(lilecti(Mi  for  resinous 
evergreens,  pine,  and  simice,  and  feed  \\\)on  the  berries  of  the 
jiuiiper  and  red  cedar  as  well  as  the  seeds  of  the  tulip-tree  and 
others  ;  they  likewise  frecpient  gardens  for  the  same  purpose, 
and  are  particularly  pleased  with  suntlower  seeds  and  other 
oily  kinds.  When  redticcd  to  necessity  they  are  observed  to 
eat  the  buds  of  the  beech  and  those  of  the  fruit-trees,  —  iirob- 
ably  for  the  sake  of  the  stamens  contained  in  them,  of  whicli 
they  are  greedy  when  disjilayed  in  the  opening  blossoms.  Tk 
stipules  of  the  expanding  buds  of  the  elm,  which  are  s\vw:j 
and  mucilaginous,  as  well  as  the  young  capsules  of  the  willow 
in  the  spring,  also  make  a  common  part  of  their  fare,  'ihoir 
food  in  stmniier,  however,  consists  ])rincipally  of  insects  aiiiij 
juicy  berries,  as  those  of  the  honeysuckle  and  others. 


arc  also  fond  o 
L-riod  of  brccdin.L 


[1 ;  but  it  rctiularly 
has  been  taken  in 


)n,  brightest  on  the 
ily  white  ;  wings  and 
ih  bruwn  and  giay, 
and  gray,  sumctiiiiL> 

open  grove,  park,  or 
bark,  lined  witli  liiiL 

kcd  with  dark  bnnvn 


abit  the  Northern 
,>rc  tlicy  rear  their 
ection  for  resinotb 
1  the  berries  of  ibc 
■  the  tulip-tree  and 
the  same  i)uri)ose, 
r  seeds  and  other 
ey  are  observed  to 
;ru  it- trees,  —  prob- 
in  them,  of  which 
iiiL!;  blossoms.  Tlii' 
1,  which  are  sufd 
5sules  of  the  willow 
f  their  fare,  'i'lieit 
ally  of  insects  aini| 
id  others. 


Although  the  J'urni,.  ,.•:„  ,    ,  ^^"3 

"^  '-'•  tile  Sm  t        ,  ^    ^'  ''  '^''■'  ^•'-^-  of  sZZ        .""'''''  '■" 

'•'tier  end  of  A        ,       '■'''^''  ^'"''  '^'^'-^as    retu^  "^  "^  ^'>^- 

^"7  ^J^  -^farch  or  carlv  in    \,    •.     ^^^'^"^"'H  north  in  th,- 

^^''  '"ontJ,  of  Amy  to  ,),ss  tl  ^^''■'''  ''"'  ^^^vin.  ,,;,.      ^^' 

«"«-^  fur  .1,.  Choi  !f ,,  '"^^  ™'"« «o"- 1,.,, ,':'"  ":,"^ 
'""'*)•  -^n.-  ,/;,:,!;"^'  -^^  '">'•  Priced,;  ^: r  '"^• 

'ou(  er  T,ir?  ../  those  of  thi-   W.  i  r  '  "^'"' 

'' and  more  aoTpenKi,,  i-  "arbJjn-/  Vin-r.    « 

Si=s-^:  cSr- "'3£3 

r^^'warv  fi,  ^"^  '"''^'^^d  much  fin       ,  '"<■' ^m<^ 

f  i  i    '^r.s  at  d  distanre ; 


374 


SINOLNG   IJIKDS. 


it  then,  by  a  fine  cresrendo,  hursts  into  loudness  and  fills  into 
an  L'cstiisy  of  Mrdcnt  and  ovcrpowcrinj^   (.'xprission  ;   at  sin  h 
times  the  usual  pauses  of  the  song  are  forL;otten,  and  like  tiir 
varied  lay  of  the  Nightingale,  the  ravishing  pert'ornter,  as  if  in 
serious  emulation,  seenis  to  study  every  art   to  produce  tin,' 
efl'eet  of  brilliant  and  well-contrasted  harmony.     As  he  sits  mi 
the  topmost  b(Migh  of  some  tall  sapling  or  more  lofty  tree,  Mir- 
veying  the  wide  landscape,  his  proud  voice  and  elevated  a(  tion 
seem  to  bid  defiance  to  r()m])etition  ;  and  while  thus  eariUNily 
engaged,  he  seems  to  fear  no  spectator,  however  near  may  be 
his  approaches.     'I'he  rapidity  of  his  performance  and  the  pre- 
eminent execution  with  which  it  is  delivered  seem  almost  like 
the  effort  of  a  musical-box  or  fine-toned,  ([uickly  moving,  ddi- 
cate   htrain   on    the  organ.     While   feeding   in   the   month  of 
March  these   birds   also  utter  a  querulous   tsliippcc   tsliir,  in 
nearly  the  same  sad  and   licpiid  tone  as  that  utterec'  by  the 
Yellow  I'lirds  while  thus  engaged.     The  dull-colored  birds,  in 
the  attire  of  the  female,  ilo  not  sing  either  so  well  or  in  the 
same  manner  as  the  crimson-colored  individuals. 

'The  nest  of  this  species  is,  as  1  have  obser\'ed  in  two  in- 
stances in  Cambridge,  made  in  the  horizontal  branches  of  the 
balsam-fir.  In  the  first,  which  I  saw  in  the  garden  of  Troti^Mir 
Farrar,  it  was  matle  in  a  young  tree  about  6  feet  from  tin. 
ground.  On  approaching  it  the  female  sat  still  until  ]  nriiiy 
touched  her,  and  made  very  little  complaint  when  off.  i  ii; 
nest  was  coarse  and  substantial,  very  much  like  that  of  the 
Song  Sy)arrow,  composed  of  coarse  grass  and  lined  with  fini' 
root-fibres.  l''rom  lliis  nest  was  raised  in  a  cage  one  (»f  t!i; 
young,  which  became  exceedingly  docile  and  affectionate,  In:; 
was  not  remarkable   for  its  song. 

Ill  winter  the  Purple  Finch  is  found  regularly,  though  spariii::!}. 
through  tile  southern  and  central  ])ortions  of  New  luigland  ind  i' 
Ontario,  and  I  have  heard  its  song  in  mid-winter  in  a  New  liruii> 
wick  forest. 


L  cayc  one  oi  uv 
I  affectionate,  U'' 


,  lliou,ij;li  spariiiL;!}- 
ew  l'".n<flaiicl  .n-!  :" 


^'i^i^   ('ROSllKAK. 


I'i: 


-N'LOI.A    |.;xL- 


■'■'-K.AloK. 


umIi 


'->*;:r,::r'-:™,"..i  ..,,,«*,, 


'■""ip  brume.     1 


!• 


^■'■'V.     On  th 


'^■"«'''  ^S;^'  to 


"(-•male  and 


thn.ii.rh 


lyn  an  over 


'-'  bordur  (jf 


y  incli 


y-'iiiig  n, 


with  r 


ICS. 


ifu  h, 


■"■''>•  carr 
i\'*-'  ii<j  iL-d 


ne  •  wi 


Ik.  ,1 


;i  swan 


"gs 
(■i  and 


11)'  or  (he 


^-»°;;.:r;:'!r  .f-' -»-^"«, « ";:s::.::' -;• 


of 


lilOSS 


.  or lui 


I'otJis,  or  vc'c 


I'hiCLcl  in  a  ere 
'«-^  '"Hi  roots  or  St 


vice  i,{  a  r. 


'■05  X  o, 


■«t.'tal,lc  librc 


'M's  "f  bark 


w  l)ran<;h 
•A    I)ri!l, 


cam  r 


iiiiniinr 


\--;  palt 
75- 


■»'"'   lined   will 


'^''  '."  •'  crotci,  „f 
>'•  '"-made  alT; 


ytxnish  blue 


'1   line 


'"•'^'■'^'^f'  with   dark- 


iir 
;ras.s, 


Tin 
u-hullv 


bn 


U'h 


ii'iice. 


■■^•e  splendid  anrl 
\vitliin  the  cold 


'"•11  and  lil 


iC 


'■^^'■y  hardy  hiu] 


or 


;i(Ia  ;) 

rin 


nly 
nd  the  L 


and 


.-r  ill  a  New  Uruiiv  ■     U'lntrr  in  the  I 


""certain 


"1    severe 
"ited    Stat 


'■"I'l  Arctic  re 


s  a 


PI 'ear  to  duvll  al: 


most 


win  ten 
nil 


cs. 


"'T'  "^  '"^^'^  ^-ontinent. 
'''''   migrate    into    ( 


a    a 


•^''•(iirrenc 


'^rc   they  are 


an- 


ocea; 


iionall 


""■^"''  P^i'-t  of  Missou 


y,  in  the 


^^■'^•>'nia,  and  are  ol 


•maritime  parts  ,,f  .^[, 


'"■y    ha\-e    ! 
ri,  and  at  (I 


'^onsequentlv   of 


K'en    seen 
■ann' 


A{.ri! 


Ace 


'served  to  ret 


issachiisetts  an.i  | 


m 
son, 


Wding  to  Afr.  p 


"^'1  to  IT.Hison  I 


<~^nn- 


"^^'  i""iper,  and 


■nnant,  th 


ie\-  (r 


''^^^'  nou'  possessed 


'ei(iiei 
of 


''ay  a- 
H  thi 


earlv 


as 


H-oods  of 


'"usical  talent. 


3/6 


SlNGINGi   BIRDS. 


bill  as  the  period  of  incubation  ai)i)roa('hes  they  groiv  silcni. 
Suited  to  the  sterile  climates  they  inhabit,  their  fare,  besides 
the  seeds  of  the  pine,  ali)inc  jjlanls,  and  berries,  often  consists 
of  the  buds  of  tlie  poplar,  willow,  and  other  ncjrthern  trees  and 
shrubs  ;  so  that  they  are  generally  secure  of  the  means  of  sub- 
sistence as  long  as  the  snows  are  not  too  overwhelming.  The 
individuals  as  yet  seen  in  the  United  States  are  wholly  young 
birds,  which,  it  seems,  naturally  seek  out  warmer  climates  than 
the  adult  and  more  hardy  individuals. 

According  to  j\Ir.  T.  McCulloch,  of  I'ictou,  Nova  Scotia,  in 
very  severe  winters  flocks  of  these  birds,  driven  from  the  pine 
forests  by  famine  and  cold,  collect  about  the  barns,  and  cvtn 
enter  the  streets  of  Pictou,  alighting  in  quest  of  f(jod.  A  ni;ilr 
bird  at  this  season,  caught  in  a  trap,  became  very  familiar,  aiiil 
as  the  spring  approached  he  resumed  his  song  in  the  morning-, 
anil  his  notes,  like  those  of  the  Rose-breasted  (Irosbeak,  were 
exceedingly  rich  and  full.  As,  however,  the  period  for  migm- 
tion  ap])roached,  his  familiarity  disapjjeared,  and  the  desire  df 
liberty  seemed  to  overcome  every  other  feeling.  For  four  day:. 
in  succession  his  ibod  remained  untouched,  and  his  jiiteoib 
wailing  excited  so  much  commiseration  that  at  length  he  \v;i> 
released.  The  l^ine  (Irosbeak  is  said  to  breed  in  Maine  a> 
well  as  in  Newfoundland  and  Labrador, 

The  visits  of  this  handsome  bird  to  New  England  and  tlic  nmn. 
soutliern  portions  of  Canada  are  decidedly  irregular.  During  u. 
oceasional  winter  tlie  Hocks  are  large  and  numerous,  while  agaiii 
Tor  several  seasons  l)ut  a  few  stragglers  may  appear. 

Dr.  Coues  thinks  that  tliere  is  no  question  l)ut  that  the  bird  i-  a 
"resident"  in  northern  New  England,  breeding  in  some  part,-  nl 
.Maine.  New  Ham])sliire,  and  \'ermont  :  but  I  am  much  ineliiici: 
to  ([uestion  it.  \'ery  possibly  a  few  pairs  may  pa.ss  an  oceasinn.L 
summer  in  that  region,  but  I  can  fnul  no  evidence  of  the  l)inl> 
having  been  seen  there  with  sufficient  frequency  to  warrant  tliti: 
being  termed  residents. 

The  only  known  instances  of  this  species  having  built  in  tin 
vicinity  of  northern  New  England  must  be  credited  to  New 
lirunswick.  These  arc  J'xiardman's  hvpothetieal  nest,  found  near 
St.  Stephen:  the  unfinished  nest  which  Banks  discovered  tU 
parents   at   work  upon,   near  St.   John  :   and  the  nest    with  thru. 


PINE   GROSBEAK. 


117 


grow 


sikni. 


fare,  besides 
fton  consists 
rn  trees  ami 
leans  of  svil'- 


Iming. 


Tb 


wholly  youivj 
climates  than 

ova  Scotia,  in 
from  the  pine 
irns,  and  ev.n 
food.     A  ^1^''^'^ 
•y  familiar,  ami 
1  the  mornini:-. 
Crosbeak,  were 
riotl  for  mii^r-t- 
id  the  desire  of 
l''or  four  llay^ 
and  his  piteous 
U  length  he  wa> 
^d  in  Maine  a> 


voung  and  one  egg  taken  l)y  Cox  on  the  Restigouche,  in  latitude 
47  ■  But  exceptuig  in  these  three  instances,  and  a  fourth  where 
}uung  birds  were  seen  on  the  Tobique  Kiver,  the  species  lias 
been  unknown  as  a  summer  resident  in  New  Brunswick  Co.x 
>a\v  several  examples  along  the  Kestigouche  in  Julv,  iS,S,S,  but  I 
have  hunted  for  them  up  and  down  the  same  river,  Irom  the 
Wagan  to  the  Metapedia,  both  in  July  and  September,  without 
Siting  or  hearing  so  much  as  one. 

Some  years  ago  I  kept  a  male  in  confinement,  and  founil  iiiin  a 
(l.lightful  pet.  He  was  healtliy  and  happy  in  Ids  cage,  was  easdv 
tained,  being  confiding  and  affectionate,  and  added  to  his  ollieV 
good  qualities  a  sweet  voice  and  pretty  melody. 

Tlie  song  differs  with  the  season.  In  winter  it  is  strong  and 
chfcry,  as  befits  a  stalwart  fellow  who  lau-hs  at  Jack  Frost  and 
makes  merry  when  the  north  wind  l)lows.  But  when  the  sprin-- 
tinie  comes  he  tells  tiie  old,  old  story  in  most  gentle  tones,  --''a 
whispered  love  song,  sweet  and  tender,  vet  with\a  wild  plaintive- 
ncss  that  makes  it  peculiarly  pleasing. 


and  and  the  mnic 
ular.  l^urin-  an 
i-ous,  while  a:^aiu 

ar. 

that  the  bird  i-  ■• 
in  some  parts  ol 
m  much  inelnKH. 
ass  an  occasi-ni.. 
ence  of  the  l.i'c^ 
,•  to  warrant  il.e' 

ving  built  in  il- 

credited  to   N^^' 

I  nest,  found  near 

discovered  tU 


vS 

le  ne 


.St   with  I'a-. 


A>[KRICAN    CROSSBILT.. 

COMMON    CROSSBILL.     RED    CROSSBILL. 
LoXl.V    CUR\IR0ST1U   MINOR. 

Char.  Bill  long  and  CDmiircssccI,  nnndiblcs  curved  at  the  points, 
whicii  cross  or  overlap.  In  young  birds  the  bill  is  straight.  Adult  males: 
dull  red,  variable  in  shade ;  wings  and  tail  blackish  brown.  Young  ni.Tu  >: 
yellowish  olive.  In  changing  plumage  they  display  great  variety  of  cnin- 
binations  of  yellow,  olive,  and  red.  Females :  al)ove,  dull  olive  ;  niinp 
and  crown  yellow ;  wings  and  tail  as  male;  below,  grayish.  Length  5': 
to  6  inches. 

iVt'sf.  Usually  in  a  dense  wood,  on  a  branch  of  an  evergreen  trer  15 
to  30  feet  from  the  ground;  made  of  twigs,  strips  of  bark,  weed-stems, 
and  roots,  lined  thickly  with  grass,  roots,  hair,  and  feathers. 

•^"vV''-     .3-4  ;  P^lc  green  dotted,  near  larger  end,  with  brown  and  laven- 
der; 0.75  X  0.57. 

This  more  common  species,  like  the  preceding,  inhabits  the 
high  northern  and  arctic  regions  of  l)oth  continents,  where  it 
breeds,  and  is  met  with  from  (Ireenland  to  Pennsylvania,  or 
farther  south,  according  to  the  season  and  the  success  in 
obtaining  food  when  driven  to  make  a  southern  descent  or 
migration,  i'rom  September  to  April  these  birds  are  fctiini 
inhabiting  the  extensive  ]Mne  forests  in  the  motmtainous  anJ 
interior  districts  of  Pennsylvania  and  other  States  to  the  north: 
they  also  extend  their  winter  migrations  into  die  lower  part^ 
the  State  of  Missouri.  They  have  occasionally  been  seen  in  | 
the   maritime   parts  of  Massachusetts,  bu'.   are  less   common  1 


AMERICAN  CROSSBILL. 


SBILL. 


irved  at  the  points, 
aight.  Adult  males: 
)\vn.  Young  males: 
;ieat  variety  of  cum- 
,-e,  dull  olive  ;  rump 
grayish.     Length  5': 


n  evergreen  tree  15 

of  bark,  weed-stems, 

sathers. 

ith  brown  and  lavciv 

(ling,  inhabits  the 
ntinents,  where  it 

PennsyhMnia,  or 
:1  the  success  in 
uthcrn  descent  or 
e  birds  are  fciim! 

mountainous  ;iiiil 
tates  to  the  north: 
die  lower  parts  d 
lally  been  seen  in 
are  less   conunon 


■■■■•stern  cl«in  of  the  MIe  X  ,  ™°"""">0"s  ro„,c.     i„  ,!„ 

;™-".  *e,  ^pp:"y^Tz::T'''T'  ^"-■'-■""-•^  •- 

"-■;l">g  so  »,c:„li,y  o„  „,,,  ,ee  K  "7,1,     ■';  ■  """"'^'"'  "•-■'-». 
I'«--I<  sj>race  as  to  be  ^,,,,muh    ,       ,        "'"'"  l'"'^'  ■■""■1  he,,, 

•l-'y  lly,  and  cl,„i„g  ,^^'  :     „  "'  ""'"f-l  note,  chmtcrin,    ' 

-;f  by  hunger  as'to  ^li^   ^^  .^.h:  ""'"  ^"''"■'  ''-°-  » 

settling  on  the  roofs  wh™  j„  ^  , ''"  '""""'-"  --aLins,  „,„ 

s^-->ci.ng  in  the  next  n,on,e„     "   ^  ,        '  '""'  ^'^"'"'-  '■- 

been  .nolested.     -Jh.y  are  then  ",^r'  "'  "  "'">■  ''"''  "-■" 

awl  unsuspicio.,s  as  to  alio"  !         '  "■''''I'"'-  ""'1  so  ca^cr 

-■y  I'e  knoekec,  .loZt^^^  ''0!'"  '"  "^^  "■■«  "-y 
hey  are  observed  even  to  pick  ofl'  thl         r  "''>'  ''"'''"'  "■^'i 
""se,  and  to  s,vallo,v  the    ,  .  e    'a    ,    t   ''  ,f "'  ""-■  '"^^  °f  "- 

";,'"="•     In  cages  they  shc^;,  ; 'o    '1  f'^  "''  "-ings  „f 

''"''b;ng up  the  sides  and  hol,l  nHhe  n  "•'■''^''^  '■•™'. 

"»e  claw  while  they  extract   i,  '°e  ^^  "."r'T  «'•''"  "'""  i" 
'  '""s^ana,  they  also  do  consider,  I     >  '  ""■'  '""''  '"''1  '" 

""■hard  by  tearing  apples  to        "      /'''ir'"''-  '•"  """^s  in  the 
"'>■  ---ris  only.     The'  fee  1  lit  „    ■    '    '^  ''"'  "'  ^Mn,  at 
-  «ell  as  the  kernels'  of  o      ,  fr,',  t         ,'  f'*  "' "'^  ■""--■■■. 
^'-cely  any  of  these  birds  h,™',""  '  "  '""'^  "' •^-- 
;™l"n  the  United  States,  a,  the    r«  r      '"',  '*'"'''"'  '"  ''"^<=<i 
f-'nle  pine  forests  in  h  .|  ,  '  !'"'  '""''"''^  >"  their 

■;-'rity  and  solitude  tl,«'  Z^Z"";    ''"'""'''■  "■'-'-  "' 
"■■  "»"-er,  of  noston,  h«.e    r    It     '  '"""  "'  ""'"'^''on. 
'';■'"  Coventry,  i„  \-er,n„„,        V"    ,  '''f'  '"  "'"'  '""'' 

;'""  breed    in  winter   i„   „,o  e   ,  '"'  '"'""■''"'S  ^l'---<:'es,  they 
■'■"""'■y  and  Febrnary,  and  th     ,-'","'"    ''"""'""■   ^'^   " 

'■'•-Wrd,vas,,ot'„b™e  V'.'""'^^^^ 
™  «l«litio„s  in  any  pa^t  of  ^;^' "■"""'«■-"■ 'be  nonh- 

"■-■■  'lescribed  by  For  ,er      I,  "■    """"'""■     ''  i^.  ho,v- 

"•'■"  -^ft"  a  severe  snow-'storn,      V'"'"'  "'  "^3^'  *'""?  or 
;■;"•  "inter  visitors  w  re  stn  in'""^;  ""''  "^ 'b«e  nn'eer- 

" ■' -^"burn,  in  this  vieir  "]^ ^^^-^'^^'^  «-e  near  to 

>■     ">  ■''JJ.  accompanie.l  by  the 


38o 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


\\  hite-winged  sijc-ciea,  a  flock  of  the  same  birds  made  their 
a,)pearan(:e  as  early  as  the  nth  of  November  in  some  tall 
pine-trees  in  the  same  place  they  visited  the  last  year  in  the 
dcjitli  of  winter.  They  are  very  busy  and  unsuspicious,  having 
very  much  the  manners  of  Parrots  in  their  feeding.  At  sonic 
distance  Ix-neaih  the  trees  where  they  are  engaged,  we  can 
hear  them  forcing  oj>en  the  scales  of  the  rigid  pine  cones  with 
a  considerable  crackling,  and  the  wmgs  of  the  seeds  fly  about 
in  all  directions.  Sometimes  the  little  Redpolls  also  attend  Xo 
snatch  a  see<l  or  two  as  they  are  spread  to  the  winds.  I'hey 
fly  somewhat  like  the  Yellow  Birds,  by  repeated  jerks  and  sink- 
ings and  risings  in  their  course,  but  proceed  more  swiftly  and 
directly  to  their  destination  ;  they  also  utter  a  rather  loud  and 
almost  barking  or  fifing  chirp,  particularly  the  females,  like 
'/s/i  'tship  'fsh  ^i*hi/>.  Their  enemies  seem  also  to  follow  them 
into  this  dlstani  and  unusual  retreat.  One  evening,  as  they 
were  uttering  their  quailing  chirp,  and  about  to  roost  in  the 
pines,  we  heard  an  unusual  cry,  and  found  that  the  alarm  was 
justly  occasioned  by  the  insidious  and  daring  attack  of  a  bold 
liUtcher  liird  (Laniits  borcalis),  who  had  taken  advantage  of 
their  bewildered  confusion  at  the  moment  of  retiring  to  repose. 
Besides  their  call  and  ordinary  plaints,  we  hear,  as  I  have 
thought.  n<jiw  and  then,  in  the  warmer  part  of  the  day,  a  rather 
agreeable,  but  s^^mewhat  monotonous,  song.  We  found  these 
birds,  as  well  as  the  Redjiolls,  very  fat  and  plump  ;  and  they 
devour  a  great  quantity  of  pine-seeds,  with  which  the  oeso])ha- 
gus  is  ijeq>etiioUy  gorged  as  full  as  in  the  gluttonous  and  tune- 
less Cedar  Birds  {Bomhycilla'). 

The  Red  Crossbill  is  still  known  to  be  chiefly  a  winter  visitor  to 
New  England  and  the-  Middle  States,  though  every  summer  a 
small  nurr)3>er  may  ht-  met  with  in  tlie  more  northern  districts  and 
on  the  lii;iher  htlls,  and  nests  have  been  taken  in  Maine.  \'erni(Mit, 
Massaeliusetts.  and  New  York.  In  April,  i.S,S(;,  Mr.  G.  S.  Miller. 
Jr.,  found  a  (lock  on  Cape  Cod.  and  upon  dissecting  several,  he  dis- 
covered evidence  that  thev  were  nesting. 

In  northern  Maine  and  New  Brunswick  numbers  have  heen 
seen  during  the  summer  months ;  but  even  in  these  regions  it  is 
chieflv  a  winter  visitor. 


WIllTE-WLNGED  CROSSBILL. 


381 


ade  their 
some    taW 
iar  m  the 
,us,  havuvi 
At  some 
;d,   we    ^'^^^ 

cones  Nvhh 
ds  ay  about 
io  attem-l  to 

•Uuls.    'I'^^'^y 

rkcs  and  sink- 
-e  swiftly  and 
thcr  loud  and 
females,  like 
o  follow  them 
ening,  as  thoy 
o  roost  in  the 
t  the  alarm  nv^^^ 
Ltack  of  a  h-\^\ 
bn  advantage  o[ 
tiring  to  repose. 
Lar,  as  1  l^^^^e 
he  day,  a  rather 
KVe  found  these 
,lump ;  and  they 
tch  the  «so\>ha- 
,onous  and  tune- 
winter  visitor  to 
every  summev  a 
tbern  districts  an 
Maine.  Vermon  • 


Mr.  < ' 
ling  seve 


ral,hetlis- 

,n.hers  have  i-" 
Itliesc  regions  lU^ 


WHITE-WIXGED   CROSSBILL. 

LOXIA   LEUCOl'lKIU. 

Char,  liill  long  and  compressed,  mandibles  curved  at  the  points, 
which  cross  or  uverlai).  Male:  dull  r(i>y,  clouded  with  dull  dark  brown 
(111  the  back;  wings  and  tail  black;  two  broad  while  bars  on  the  wings; 
l.iclly  dull  white  streaked  with  brown.  Female  :  dull  olive,  paler  beneath; 
rimip  bufly.  Young  similar  to  female,  but  paler  olive  above,  and  more 
tlecided  yellow  beneath,  streaked  everywhere  with  dark  brown.  Length 
about  6  to  6/2  inches. 

Xi's/.  In  the  deep  forest,  usually  saddled  on  a  fork  of  an  evergreen, 
amid  tiie  denser  foliage  near  the  centre  of  the  tree ;  made  of  twigs  and 
-trips  of  birch  bark,  covered  exteriorly  with  moss  [itsiua),  and  lined  with 
SI  lit  moss  and  hair. 

^'■^c,'^-  3~';  P-'^le  Ijlue,  spotted  and  streaked  near  larger  end  with  red- 
di-h  brown  and  lilac;  o.iJo  X  0.55. 

'I'his  beautiful  and  well-distinguished  species    inhabits    tlie 

northern    regions   of  the    American  continent  only,   whence, 

at  irregular  intervals,  on  the  approach  of  winter,  it  arrhes  in 

the  Northern  and  Middle  States,  and,  as  usual  with  the  rest  of 

this  curious  family,  seeks  out  the   pine  and   hemlock-spruce 

forests.      Its   visits    to   this    State    [Massachusetts]    are    very 

irngular.     About  two    years  ago,  large,  gregarious,   famished 

iloi  ks   were    seen    near    Newburyport  and    other  neighboring 

towns  in  the  vicinity  of  the   sea-coast,   at  which  time  many 

were  caught,  killed,   and  caged.     The  hnbits  of  this  bird  are 

almost  entirely  similar  to  those  of  the  preccdinu;  species.     Its 

song  is  said  to  be  mellow  and  agreeable,  and  in  cajnivity  it 

becomes  gentle  and  fantilinr. 

Arcording  to  Mr.  Hutchins,  it  arrives  arountl  Hudson  l>ay 
in  March,  and  in  May  builds  a  nest  of  grass,  mud,  and  feath- 
ers, fixed  generally  about  half  way  up  a  iiine-tree,  ami  lays  5 
tt'hiU'  eggs  marked  with  yellowish  spots.  The  yotmg  tly  about 
the  end  of  June.  It  remains  in  this  <-ouutry  till  the  close'  of 
November,  after  which  it  retires,  probably  to  the  South  ;  and 
Wilson's  bird  was  obtained  in  the  (Ireat  Tine  Swamp  or  forest 
"f  the  Pokono  (Pennsylvania),  in  the  mtjuth  of  Seiitember, 
•^'1  that  it  may  be  possible  that  some  few  pairs  brectl  in  this 
sit'riiion. 


3B2 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


This  species,  according  to  Ricliardson,  inhabits  the  dense 
white  spruce  forests  ot"  the  fur  countries,  feeding  i)rincipally  on 
the  seeds  of  the  cones.  It  ranges  through  the  whole  breadth 
of  the  continent,  and  i)robably  up  to  the  68th  parallel,  where 
the  forests  terminate.  It  is  usually  seen  in  the  upper  branches 
of  trees,  and  when  wounded  still  clings  so  fast  as  to  remain 
suspended  after  death.  In  September,  collecting  in  small 
flocks,  they  fly  from  tree  to  tree  in  a  restless  manner  and  make 
a  chattering  noise  ;  and  in  the  depth  of  winter  they  retire  from 
the  coast  to  seek  shelter  in  the  thick  woods  of  the  interior. 

This  interesting  l>ird  must  still  be  written  "irregular"  in  its  oc- 
currence in  this  State,  tliough  usually  more  or  less  abundant  in 
winter  down  to  the  40tli  parallel. 

It  is  partially  sedentary  in  northern  New  England  and  the  Mari- 
time Provinces  of  Canada,  thougli  much  more  abundant  in  winter 
than  during  the  warm  wcatlier.  The  nest  is  built  in  January  and 
February,  —  I  have  known  of  numerous  nests  being  discovered  in 
New  Brunswick  in  tliose  montlis.  — and  it  is  probable  that  botli 
young  and  old  retire  farther  northward  after  the  young  birds  are 
able  to  rty. 


the  dense 
.iciyally  on 
3\e  breadth 
al\e\,  where 
,er  branches 
^  to  remain 
ng   in   smaU 
er  and  make 
;y  retire  from 
;  interior. 

jir"  in  its  oe- 
^'s  abundant  in 

I  and  the  ^lavi- 
ndant  in  Nvintcv 

in  January  an_<i 
,,r  discovevcd  in 
,baiiie  that  both 

young  birds  arc 


WHITE-BREASTED   NUTHATCH. 

Sn  TA    CAKOI.INKXSIS. 

Char.  Above,  bluish  ash;  top  of  head  and  neck  black;  wings  black, 
blue,  and  white;  tail  black,  marked  with  white;  Ijcneath,  wliite ;  under 
tail-coverts  recklish  brown.  Hill  long  and  acute.  Female  and  young 
>imi]ar,  but  black  of  head  tinged  with  ashy  or  wanting.  Length  j-'^ 
inches. 

A'tst.  In  open  woodland,  i)laced  at  the  bottom  of  a  cavity  excavated 
ill  a  dead  tree  or  stump, — sometimes  an  old  woodpecker's  nest  is  used; 
made  of  leaves,  grass,  fcatliers,  ami  hair. 

E.f^s.  4-8  (occasionally  as  many  as  10.  usually  5);  white  tinged  witli 
ruse  pink,  and  spotted  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac  ;  o.So  X  0.60. 

This  species,  so  nearly  allied  to  the  European  Nuthatch,  re- 
sides iiennanently  throughout  North  .Vmerica,  from  Htidson 
liay  and  Oregon  to  the  tableland  of  Mexico,  api)earing  only 
more  common  and  familiar  at  the  apjiroach  of  winter  in  con- 
seinujnce  of  the  failure  of  its  food  in  its  favorite  sylvan  re- 
treats, which  it  now  often  forsakes  for  the  open  fields,  orchards, 
ir  gardens,  where,  in  pairs  or  small  and  sometimes  contending 


3«4 


SINCIIXG   BIRDS. 


parties,  they  cautiotisly  glean  a  transient  means  of  subsistence, 
and  wander  from  place  to  place  as  the  supply  diminishes.     At 
the  welcome  return,  however,  of  the  month  of  April,  with  the 
revival  and  renewal  of  its  insect  fare  the  Nuthatch  becomes 
more  domestic  ;  and  retiring  into  the  forest  with  its  mate,  it 
])re|)ares  for  its  progeny  in  some  hollow  tree,  or  even  in  a  rail 
of  the  neighboring  fence.     The  male  is  now  assiduously  atten- 
tive to  his  sitting  mate,  supplying  her  regularly  with  food  ;  un 
which  occasion  he  affectionately  calls  her  from  the  mouth  of 
her   dark    and   voluntary   prison,  where   sometimes,    in  nierr 
sociability,  he  attempts  in  his  rude  way  to  soothe  her  with  hi^ 
C()mi)laisant  chatter.     He  is  too  affectionate  to  ramble  from 
this  favorite  spot,  where  he  not  only  accompanies  his  consort. 
but,  sentinel-like,  watches  and  informs  her  of  every  threaten- 
ing danger.     When  the  pair  are  feeding  on  the  trunk  of  the 
same  tree,  or  near  to  each  other  in  the  same  wood,  the  faithful 
male  is  heard  perpetually  calling  upon  his  comjjanion  at  short 
intervals  as  he  circumambulates  the  trunk.     His  approach  is 
announced    usually  at    a   distance    by    his   nasal    kaiik  kaiik, 
frecpienlly  repeated,  as   in  spiral  circles  round  the  trunk  of 
some  tree  he  probes,  searches,  and  shells  off  the  bark  in  quest 
of  his  lurking  prey  of  spiders,  ants,  insects,  and  their  lar\-aj  in 
general.     So  tight  and  secure  is  his  hold  that  he  is  known  lu 
roost  indifferently  with  his  head  up  or  down  from  the  tree : 
and  when  woimded,  while  any  spark  of  life  remains,  his  con- 
vulsive   and    instinctive    grasp    is   still    firmly  and  obstinately 
maintained.     Sometimes,  with  a  sort  of  complaisant  curiositv, 
one  of  the  birds,  when  there  is  a  i)air,  will  silently  descnui 
nearly  to  the  foot  of  the  tree,  where  the  s])ectator  hapi)en-^  to 
stand,  st<)p])ing,  head  downwards,  and  stretching  out  his  nrck, 
as  it  were,  to  reconnoitre  your  ap])earance  and  motives ;  am! 
after  an  interval  of  silence,  wheeling  round,  he  again  ascend:- 
to  his  usual  station,  trum])eting  his  notes  as  before.    He  seldom 
wholly  quits  the  forest,  but  when  baffled  by  the  slippery  sleet 
which  denies  him  a  foothold,  he  is  sometimes  driven  to  tin 
necessity  of  approaching   the    barnyard    and    stables,    or   ti;e 
precincts  of  the  dwelling,  where,  occasionally  mixing  among 


of  subsistence, 
liminishes.  Al 
f  April,  with  the 
tiiatch  bcconiL's 
kvitli  its  mate,  it 
r  even  in  a  rail 
isiduously  atten- 
'  with  footl ;  on 
m  the  mouth  ot 
;times,  in  mere 
(the  her  with  hi> 

to  ramble  from 
mies  his  consort. 

every  threaten- 
the  trunk  of  the 
vood,  the  faithful 
mpanion  at  short 
His  api)roach  is 
lasal   hank  kltnk^ 
nid  the  trunk  of 
the  bark  in  quest 
Hid  their  larvae  in 
at  he  is  known  to 
n  from  the  tree ; 
remains,  his  cnn- 
y  and  obstinauly 
plaisant  curiositv, 
1  silently  desceml 
xtator  ballpens  to 
hing  out  his  neck, 
uid  motives  ;  am! 

he  again  ascend- 
)efore.  He  seldom 
'  the  slippery  slcct 
mes  driven  to  the 
d  stables,  or  the 
illy  mixing  among 


I^ED-BKEASTKD   M-TIIATCII. 


t'^e  common  fowls,  entering  the  bun     v  '^' 

'•^"t^"'-«.    he    seems    to    leave  no    m  "'"'"'^ '^^  "^^"^^'"-^  ^'"<i 

^  'lu   means    untried    to 


subsistence 
Tlii 


"Secure    a 


i«  ■species  is  doubtless  •.  ,-     •  i 

;,';:":-"■"""«  "u.,..  .,1,  ,,,1*;;;; ";  <^".'a,.i„  .,„„  .ve„.  k„,.. 

K';"-nRi:.\.sT|.:„  xuthatci. 

'"''■'"'A  <:.\\.Ai,i.:xs,.s. 

'■<  *-Iw^  o^^rL  "tl-  .'""' '  '''f  '"^'  '^'^^  of  head  bl-,cl-  •  I         , 
""-  tail-fbathJ  "  ,  H^;  ;';S«  '^'-kish,  with  a.hv    .u'^Mt^'V'"'^'^ 

•''V:;-- -in:v;^:N -ni^:;,  :;--'^;-.i.:i:;:;;::^;^^^^^ 

,, ,  Z'^-    /"  "P^»  woodland  ;  an  exc^v.M       •      '"^^'^'^  ^'-'  ''■^^''t'-^- 
'file  habits  of  these  smnii ,    i  •   , 

p^-'iins;  they  „::  t '^,:  :,:7  ■^"""■^'  '■■-■- '-  «- 

"■'l'"g  "".ch  on  ,l,e  oily  ».,■,/"■"'""  "^^^  "'■"^-  "■»■■«'». 
''•'■■'^■n  solitudes  ,l,cy  Jr,  ,1"  "^f"  ''"'"''"''■  '"  .h«e 
'"■l*'yment,  associating  in       '  "''  i""  ,'"  '^^  f«">''  "•  Lusy 

"-ysroup,  skipping' J„"         ,      '"""  '.  '""«'>••  ^>«"--.  ->.! 
r''"l'ing  ;>nd  ra.tin.rthc    Ic    1        ,   ""  "■'"'  l''-'«hnt  d,atter 

"'*■  liroceed  throt,t.|,  tl,e  for,.!,  ,        '    ""^  •'  ''°"'>-'  of  Tar- 

""-  continent  .^  .1     t     e  :  n'""""'  "■""'"  "^  "■'-'^■ 

"'■.■;,  ■" "-  -„,e  „,a„„er  .id,  ' : :,:  J'"^:  ;;■""■■'■».  -"•">« 

"'^^  notes  of  this  sneries  r.f  x-    ,    '^"^^  ''^  ^^e  spring. 

■""■'"  '"an  t,,ose  oVtC  eced^r'T"'  u-'"'  -"""'  -« 
:'  *""»li"g  almost  like  a  cha  .^'  ''*™'*"»' ""'V '/■'/ -toy, 
"■*'  'l'»'^ter.     They  clin./.o    ,    V    '"'f-     "'^  "'""""^  -e 


U'h 


tribe. 


^'"'..  I. 


manner  of  th 


eir 


^5 


386 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


This  species  has  a  more  extended  range  than  carolincnsis,  l)einL: 
found  farther  west  and  fartiier  north.  It  breeds  in  nortliern  Niu 
KnL;land  and  northward  to  about  50°.  It  occurs  sjjaringly  in  wintci 
in  New  iJrunswick.  A  good  account  of  its  nesting  habits,  writtLii 
by  Mr.  .Manly  Hardy,  appeared  in  the  Bulletin  of  the  Nuttall  Clul 
for  October,  1S7S. 


BROWN-HEADED   NUTHATCH. 

ShTA    I'USII.LV. 

Char.  Above,  ashy  blue  ;  top  of  head  and  neck  brown  ;  white  spot  on 
back  oi  neck;  wings  black  and  bluish,  middle  tail-feathers  like  batu, 
others  l)lack  tipped  with  bluish;  beneath,  dull  brownish  white  lingul 
with  i)ale  ash  behind;  throat  white.  Uill  long,  slender,  and  acutt-, 
Length  2)H  to  :\]i  inches. 

A'iSt.  in  open  woodland;  an  excavation  in  a  dead  stuni]),  lined  with 
grass,  leaves,  and  feathers. 

Zf;;.,-.r.  4-6;  white,  thickly  marked  with  fine  spots  of  reddisli  brown  ami 
pale  lilac  ;  0.60  X  0.50. 

This  small  species  is  seldom  seen  to  the  north  of  the  State 
of  Virginia.     In  the  Southern  States  it  is  rather  common,  and 
is  also  met  with  in  the  island  of  Jamaica.    Like  the  last,  whii  h 
it  resembles   in  manners,  it   is  very  fond  of  pine-trees,  ;inil 
utters  a  similar  note,  but  more  shrill  and  chirping.     Its  f(jud. 
besides  the  seeds  of  the  pine,  is  usually  the  insects  which  intl>! 
the  forest  trees.     In  winter  families  of  this  species  of  S  or  u 
individuals  may  be  seen  busily  hunting  in  company,  and  kicj  • 
ing  up  a  perpetual  and    monotonous  screeping.      It   is  Un- 
suspicious than  most  other  sylvan  birds,  sometimes  descemlin. 
down   the  trunk  of  a  tree  watching  the  motions  of  the  In 
stander ;  and  if  the  intrusion  happens  to  be  near  the  nest,  ( .■ 
while  engaged  in  digging  it  out,  the  little  harmless  mechanic 
utters  a  sort  of  complaining  note,  and  very  unwillingly  relir.j 
quishes  his  employment,  which  is  instantly  renewed  on  the 
removal  of  the  observer. 

This  species  is  restricted  to  the  Southern  and  Gulf  States,  raal;! 
wandering  north  of  X'irginia  and  Maryland  :  but  examples  liav.-^ 
been  taken  in  Missouri,  Ohio,  and  Michigan. 


CI 

oj 


liKUWN   CkEKIEIi, 


387 


ncnsis,  bcin;^ 

,g\y  in  Nvinui 
wbUs,  NvrUi^'. 
>NuUaUClul 


I. 


,n  ;  white  spot  on 
;alhcvs  like  b-.uk, 
•nisii  NvUit^  tuv^.u 
cndcr,  and  acui.. 

lined  wUV, 


\  stump 


Ml 


rrcddisii  brown  an 

wrth  of  the  Stau- 
her  common,  ami 
,Uc  the  last,  Nvbu  h 
,f  pine-trees,  anu 
arping.  Us  food 
.sects  which  nMe^t 
species  of  8  or  u 

cping.  U  is  - 
retimes  descen-hn. 
notions  of  the  by 

near  the  nest,  ^''  I 
Harmless  mecbani': 

[y  umvillingb-  i'^'''"' 
ly  renewed  on  the 

d  GuU  State^.  rar.^' 
but  examples  ha^« 


iiRowx  cri:i:pi:r. 

ClKI'HIA    FAMII.IARIS   AMl,klC.iN.%. 

CUAR.  Above,  grayish  Ijrinvn,  cacli  feather  !>trcak'.-d  with  dull  white  ; 
rump  rufous;  wings  with  two  bars  of  dull  or  rcddjsl;  ntht;  beneath,  dull 
white  ur  pale  gray.     Length  aljoui  5J2  inches. 

.\tj/.  In  deep  woods,  placed  behind  a  ?livtr  'A  joosc  l;ark  on  a 
liecaycd  tree  or  stub;  made  of  shreds  of  bark  and  uifua  moss  firmly 
interwoven  and  set  on  a  platform  of  twig>.  It  ij»  K^irictimcs  lined  with 
leathers. 

it'^^'^f.  4-S  ;  white  or  creamy,  —  when  freshly  b;<],  tinted  with  pale 
roseate,  —  spotted  with  reddish  brown  ;  0.60  X  oy^. 

This  industrious  forager  for  insects,  chiefly  dwelling  in  the 
seclusion  of  the  forest,  is  but  seldom  seen  in  ihc  virnrner ;  but 
on  the  api)roach  of  winter,  with  other  hungr)-  wanderers  of 
similar  habits  such  as  the  small  Woodpecker-  and  Nuthatches, 
il  makes  its  appearance  on  the  wooded  skirts  of  the  village, 
particularly  among  the  pine-trees,  and  fx:casi<jnally  becomes 
familiar  enough  to  pay  a  passing  visit  to  the  orchard.  In  this 
country,  however,  the  species  is  neither  common  nor  familiar, 
nor  is  it  more  abundant  in  the  Xorihern  than  the  Middle 
Stales,  though  its  breeiling  range  extends  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Newfoundland. 

The  bill  of  the  Creeper  not  being  of  snffiritnt  strength  to 
probe  the  wood,  it  rests  contented  with  vxaininiLg  the  crevices 
of  the  bark  for  insects  and  their  eggs,  j^rcxx-edsng  leisurely 
upwards  or  downwards  in  straight  or  spiral  line*;  towards  the 
U)\>  of  the  tree,  dodging  dexterously  to  the  opjxyijke  side  from 
the  observer,  and  only  resuming  its  occujjation  when  assured 
of  s(;litude  and  safety.  While  thus  employed  it  uittr-!  at  short 
intervals  a  sharp,  cpiick,  rather  grating  note,  by  which  it^  rc^^ort 
may  be  discovered,  though  it  rei[uires  some  time  and  a  good 
eye  to  perceive  it  if  on  the  u]iper  branches  of  a  tall  tree. 
Though  it  Hves  chiefly  on  insects,  it  also,  according'  to  Wilson. 
collects  the  seeds  of  the  pine  for  food,  and  is  partk-::Larly  fond 
of  the  vermin  which  prey  on  those  kinds  of  trees.  In  the 
thick  forests  which  it  inhabits  in  the  Northern  an<l  Western 


388 


SINCJINCi   UIKDS. 


States  al)uut  the  iiiidillc  ofApril,  it  coininenccs  the  nest  in  thi 
hollow  trunk  or  branch  ot'  a  tri'e  whii  h  has  bren  exposed  to 
decay  by  injury  or  accident.  Here  in  the  accidental  cavities 
or  deserted  hoh.'S  of  the  s<|uirrel  or  Woodpeckt  r  the  Oeeper 
deposits  her  ej,'i,'s,  'I'he  youni;  (■ree[)  about  with  great  caution 
previous  to  takin;^  to  their  wings. 

'I'liL'  lirowu  CrcepiT  is  a  coniinon  biril  in  New  I".nt,dand,  tliough 
in  the  soiillicni  porlioiis  it  is  less  nunieruu^  in  tiie  I)reecling  season 
than  (luring  the  colder  months.  It  is  coniniun  in  Ontario  ami 
OiR'bec,  l)ut  less  abundant  in  the  .MariunK-  I'rovinccs.  An  inter 
esting  account  of  the  breedin;^  habits  of  this  bird,  written  l)y  .Mr. 
William  Urewster,  appeared  in  the  Nuttall  IjiiUetin  for  July,  1879. 


1JAHAM.\    lIU\i:V   CREEPER. 

Ci;KTI1I()I.A    liAHA.Mr.NSlS, 

("mar.  Above,  d.irk  brown  ;  lumj)  yellow  ;  stripe  over  eyes  and  under- 
p.irts  dull  white ,  breast  and  edge  of  wing  pale  yellow ,  tail  broadly 
tipi)ed  with  white.     Length  4J3  inehes. 

.Vc'sf.  In  a  low  tree  or  bush  ;  a  large,  pensile,  dome-shaped  structurL', 
the  entrance  at  the  side  ;  m.ide  of  weed-stems  and  grass,  and  liiKtl  with 
plant  down. 

.£];;;'-j'.  2-4;  white,  tinged  with  green  and  speckled  with  rufous:  0.65 
X  0.50. 

The  home  of  this  species  is  on  the  Bahamas,  but  it  is  found 
regularly  along  the  .southeastern  coast  of  Florida.     Mr.  Gos.se  in 
his    "  Birds    of    Jamaica "    gives    an    interesting    account    of    ib, 
habits.     He  describes   it  as  obtaining  its  food  in  much  the  .sanii 
manner    as    Hummim;    liirds.  —  by  probing  the  flowers;    but  in- 
stead of  hovering  in  front  of  a  flower,  the  Creeper  alights  on  the 
tree.     Wlien  examining  a  flower  for  the  insects  which  are  at  t' 
bottom  of  the  cup,  the  bird  throws  its  body  into  a  variefx    -f  1 
tions,  sometimes  with  the  back  downward,  the  better 
interior  of  a  blossom  with  its  curved  bill  and  peculiar  tc 
bird  is  unsuspecting  and  familiar,  and  freely  resorts  to  tl     hlosson' 
ing  shrubs  of  a  garden. 


ncsi  in  ^^^^ 

^reat  ciuiliou 

rccdini;  season 

,^    OnUxi'io  -.vnil 

>ccs.     An'"^^;' 
written  by  >'>• 
for  July,  «87'> 


R.. 


vev  eyes  and  under- 
cllow 


tad  briKully 


K-shaped  suuctuvc, 
.,.aHs,andUucdxv:d^ 

■a  with  rufous :  o.Oj 

,s,  but  it  IS  found 
ja      Mr.  tj«^^^  '" 
,;    account   oi    -^^ 
•n  much  the  same 
.  ,U>Nvers ;   but  m- 
eper  a\i;4l^ts  on  Uh' 
,s  whicli  are  at 
oavariety  ;'<! 
better 
Iculiart.       ■^-     \';, 


I5LACK   \Ni)  wmri:  \v.\ri;i.i:r. 

BLACK   AM)   WIlITi:   CKEICl'r.K. 
Mnkitii.ia  \\ki\. 

Chak.  AIjovc,  black  striped  with  white,  Iicad,  win.i^s,  and  tail  mostly 
bl.uk;  beneath,  white,  more  or  less  striped  with  iilack.  I'cmale  and 
yoimn  without  stripes  on  the  throat.     IxnLsth  .('2  to  5'2  inches. 

A' >A  In  open  woodland  or  pastuic;  placed  at  the  fool  of  a  tree  or 
stmnp,  or  at  the  base  of  a  moss-covered  rock,  sometimes  in  a  hole;  made 
of  grass,  moss,  and  shreds  of  bark,  and  lined  with  L,'rass,  hair,  roots,  and 
vc.uetable  down. 

A';V'.*'.  -I-5;  creamy  white,  thickly  spotted  with  jiale  reddish  brown; 
0.65  X  0.50. 

This  remarkable  bird,  allied  to  the  Cree])ers,  is  another 
rather  common  summer  resident  in  most  parts  of  the  United 
States,  and  probably  migrates  pretty  far  to  the  north.  It 
arrives  in  Louisiana  by  the  middle  of  February,  visits  Pennsyl- 
vania about  the  second  week  in  Ai)ril,  and  a  week  later  appears 
in  the  woods  of  New  lOngland,  protracting  its  stay  in  those 
s  till  the  beginning  of  October,  and  lingering  on  the 
M  hmits  of  the  Union  a  month  later,  so  that  it  does  not 
-ipl  to  be  much  affected  by  the  commencement  of  frost, 
and  |irobably  at  this  season  occasionally  feeds  on  berries. 
As  numbers  are  observed  round  \'era  Urn/  toward  the  com- 
iiK'iicement  of  winter,  and  are  described  as  inhabiting  the 
\Vesr  India  islai  ^,  it  is  probable  they  pass  the  extremity  of 
the  winter  bev      1  the  southern  boundarv  of  the  Union. 


390 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


Like  the  Creepers  and  Nuthatches,  these  birds  are  seldom 
seen  to  perch  upon  the  branches  of  trees,  but  creep  spirally 
around  the  trunk  and  larger  boughs  up  and  down,  in  quest  of 
insects  which  alight  upon  or  hide  within  the  crevices  of  the 
bark.  In  this  employment  they  display  all  the  dexterity  of  the 
more  regular  climbers.  For  this  purpose  the  hind  toe  is  rather 
stout,  and  extends  backward  so  as  to  balance  with  the  anterior 
part  of  the  foot,  and  allow  a  motion  like  that  of  the  Creepers. 
from  which  genus  they  are  at  the  same  time  wholly  distinct. 

At  the  period  of  breeding,  the  male  scrapes  out  a  little 
monotonous  ditty  in  recognition  of  his  mate,  resembling  some- 
what the  syllables  te  tshc  tshc  tshc  tsJC  tshcte,  proceeding  from 
high  to  low  in  a  tolerably  strong  and  shrill,  but  somewhat 
filing  tone.  As  the  season  of  incubation  advances,  this  note, 
however,  becomes  more  mellow  and  warbling,  and  thouuh 
feeble,  is  very  pleasing,  bearing  at  this  time  some  resemblame 
to  that  of  the  Redstart  {Scicpkaga  ruticilld).  This  song  is  like 
the  ascending  call  of  ^tivee  ^hocc  'twee  'hue.  'tweet.  At  the 
r(Miiantic  estate  of  the  Cold  Spring  place  in  Roxbury  the  pro 
prietor,  Mr.  Newman,  pointed  out  to  me  the  nest  of  this  bird, 
which  on  the  27th  of  June  contained  four  young  about  a  week 
old.  Other  birds  of  this  species  I  had  seen  fledged  this  year 
about  the  1 7th  of  the  same  month,  and  as  Wilson  remarks  the 
flight  of  the  young  in  July,  we  may  suppose  that  they  raise  two 
brood?  in  the  season.  The  nest  was  niched  in  the  shelving'  of 
a  rock  on  the  surflicc  of  the  ground,  and  was  externally  com- 
posed of  coarse  strips  of  the  inner  bark  of  the  hemlock-trees, 
which  overshadowed  the  situation.  With  these  were  mixed  soft, 
dissected  old  leaves  and  a  few  stalks  of  dead  grass ;  the  lining 
was  made  of  a  thin  layer  of  black  hair.  According  to  AmUi- 
bon,  these  birds  nest  in  Louisiana  in  some  small  hole  in  a  tree, 
nnd  employ  dry  moss  and  a  lining  of  downy  substances.  'i"he 
pair  fed  the  young  before  us  with  affectionate  attention,  nmi 
did  not  seem  more  uneasy  at  our  presence  than  the  common 
and  familiar  summer  Yellow  iJird.  They  crept  about  the  tnmks 
of  the  neighboring  trees,  often  head  downwards,  I'ke  the  Sittas, 
and  carried  large  sniooth  c:Uerpillars  to  their  young.     Thi-^  is. 


rURPLE  MARTIN. 


391 


ire  seldom 
;ep  spirally 

in  quest  of 
dees  of  the 
terity  of  the 
toe  is  rather 
the  anterior 
he  Creepers, 
y  distinct. 

out  a  little 
nbling  some- 
cceding  from 
3Ut  somewhat 
ces,  this  note, 
r,  and  thouLih 
e  resemblance 
his  song  is  hi<^' 
twcci.  At  the 
,xbury  the  pro- 
;st  of  this  biril 
,g  about  a  week 
;dged  this  year 

jn  remarks  the 

|t  they  raise  two 
the  shelving  of 

[externally  com- 
hemlock-trecs. 

vere  mixed  soft, 
Irass ;  the  lining 
jrding  to  Au'ln- 
1\  hole  in  a  tree. 
^bstances.     I'l^^' 
.  attention,  cvnd 
m  the  common 
tbout  the  trunfo 
,  like  the  Sit  1  as, 
'oung.     'Hii^i- 


in  fact,  at  all  times  a  familiar,  active,  and  unsuspicious  little 
visitor  of  the  shady  gardens  and  orchards,  as  well  as  woods 
and  solitudes. 

The  Black  and  White  Creeper,  as  th's  species  is  usually  called, 
occurs  west  to  the  Mississippi  valley,  and  is  abundant  in  Manitoba. 
It  is  a  common  summer  resident  of  the  Maritime  Provinces. 

It  was  first  classed  with  the  Warblers  by  Spencer  IJaird  in  1S59, 
.ind  has  been  retained  there  by  all  later  authorities.  Nuttall  con- 
siilcred  that  there  were  two  species,  one  of  which  he  named  borcalis : 
hut  it  has  not  been  considered  valid,  though  Ridgway,  in  his  "Man- 
ual," suggests  the  name  M.  varia  borcalis  fur  a  supposed  Missis- 
sijipi  valley  and  Middle  American  race,  which  he  describes  as 
snmewhat  smaller  than  true  varia;  but  he  thinks  the  material  at 
hand  insufficient  to  warrant  a  positive  decision,  so  we  are  saved  the 
iniliction  of  this  much  "hair-splitting," 


PURPLE   MARTIN. 

Prognk  sums. 

Thar.  Male:  lustrous  black  with  purple  tint,  wings  and  tail  with 
1)1  iwnish  tint.  Female  and  young;  browner  above,  and  beneath  grayish. 
Length  7J'2  inches. 

.Wst.  fn  a  box,  or  attached  to  the  cave  of  a  house  ;  sometimes  in  a 
decayed  tree ;  made  of  grass,  leaves,  etc. 

K^'^s.    4-6;  white  and  glossy;  0.95  X  0.75. 

According  to  the  progress  of  the  season  in  the  very  different 
I'limates  of  the  United  States,  is  measured  the  arrival  of  this 
Welcome  messenger  of  spring.  Around  the  city  of  New  Or- 
leans, for  example,  the  Purple  Martin  is  seen  from  the  ist  to 
the  ijth  of  February.  At  the  Falls  of  the  Ohio,  it  is  not  seen 
before  the  middle  of  March,  and  representatives  do  not  arrive 
in  the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia  until  the  first  week  in  A[)ril  ;  on 
the  .•!5th  of  that  month,  or  later,  they  visit  the  vicinity  of  llos- 
ton,  and  penetrate  even  to  the  cold  regions  of  Hudson  Cay, 
where  they  arri\  c  in  May  and  retire  in  August ;  about  the  20th 
of  the  same  month  they  also  leave  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 
The  migrations  of  these  birds  are  remarkably  extensive,  as 
thev  were  seen  bv  Mr.  Swainson  in  great  numbers  around  Per- 


5V^ 


SINGLNC;   BIRDS. 


namlnico.  Mr.  Townscnd  iiict  with  ilicni  on  the  Rocky  Moiin 
tains,  and  Audubon  observed  tlicin  l)rcc(Ung  in  Texas.  In 
Oregon  we  fuund  them  nesting  in  tiie  knot-holes  of  the  oak>, 
and  they  did  not  appear  to  court  the  society  of  man,  as  we 
seldom  saw  tliem  near  the  fort.  In  their  haste  to  return  to 
tlieir  natal  climes,  they  sometimes  exjjose  themselws  to  fatal 
accidents  from  changeable  and  unfavorable  weather.  In  tin 
maritime  [)arts  of  Massachusetts,  and  probably  throughout  llie 
State,  a  few  years  ago  after  a  rainy  midsunnner,  many  were 
found  dead  in  their  boxes,  and  they  have  since  been  far  le^.i 
numerous  than  formerly. 

This  beautiful  species,  like  many  others  of  the  family,  set  ks 
out  the  dwellings  of  man,  associating  itself  eiiually  with  the 
master  and  the  slave,  the  colonist  and  the  aboriginal.  To  the 
Martin  it  is  intlifferent  whether  its  mansion  be  carved  ami 
painted,  or  hmnbled  into  the  hospitable  shell  of  the  calal),l^h 
or  gourd.  Secure  of  an  asylum  for  its  mate  and  young,  while 
under  the  i)rotection  of  man  it  twitters  forth  its  gratitude,  ainl 
is  everywhere  welcomed  to  a  home.  So  eager  is  it  to  claim 
this  kind  of  protection  that  sometimes  it  ventures  hostilities 
with  the  liluebirds  and  domestic  I'igeons,  wh(j  are  often  foii  ed 
to  abandon  their  hereditary  claims.  Satisfied  with  the  recep- 
tion and  success,  like  so  many  contented  and  faithful  domes- 
tics, it  returns  year  after  year  to  the  same  station.  The 
services  of  the  Martin  in  driving  away  Hawks  and  ("rows  i'loni 
the  premises  he  claims,  are  also  important  inducement^  f^r 
favor  ;  he  has  even  the  courage  to  attack  the  redoubtable 
Kingbird,  when  its  visits  are  too  familiar  near  the  nest. 

.At  the  ai)proaching  dawn  the  merry  Martin  begins  a  livelv 
twitter,  which,  continuing  for  half  a  minute,  subsides  until  the 
twilight  is  fairly  broken.  To  this  prelude  succeeds  an  ani- 
mated and  incessant  musical  chattering,  sufficient,  near  the 
dwelling,  to  awaken  the  soundest  sleeper.  His  early  vigils  arc 
scarcely  exceeded  by  the  domestic  Cock ;  the  industrimb 
farmer  hears  the  pleasing  call  to  labor,  and  associates  wiili  thi- 
favorite  bird  the  idea  of  an  economical,  cheerful,  and  'a>eiiil 
guest. 


I'UKl'LK   MAK'lIX. 


393 


Dcky  Moun 

Texas.     In 
of Ihc  oak^ 
•  man,  as  wc 
to  return  l>i 
^U-s  to  fatal 

.her.     1»^  ^^>^ 
iroughoul  the 
r,  many  wcie 
been  far  le^^ 

:  family,  scrks 
pially  with  ihc 
uinal.     'I'l'  ^'>^' 
^e  carved  an.l 
of  the  calabash 
ja  younii,  wlnU' 
^  irratitncle',  ami 
r  Is  it  to  <■!;>"" 
^tures  hostiliu^'S 
are  often  fon  ol 
with  the  recqi- 
faithfni  donus- 
L.   station.     '1^'*-' 
,n.l  Crows  fvnni 
.nducement>  f'-r 
[the   redouhtihk 
he  nest. 

[  begins  a  liv.lv 
l\)si(les  until  ilw 
arceeds   an    ini- 
,eient,  near  the 
Is  early  vigils  arc 
the    industn.Hb 
,ociates  wilV^  tlv.> 
erful,  and  -vi':i 


In  the  Middle  States,  from  the  15th  to  the  20tli  of  Ajjril, 
the  Martins  begin  to  prepare  their  nest,  which  is  usually  made 
of  small  green  or  dry  leaves,  straws,  hay,  and  feathers,  laid  in 
considerable  quantities.  They  rear  two  broods  in  the  season. 
Several  pairs  also  dwell  harmoniously  in  the  same  box.  The 
male,  very  attentive  to  his  sitting  mate,  also  takes  i)art  in  the 
task  of  incubation  ;  and  his  notes  at  this  time  have  ajtijarenily 
a  peculiar  and  expressive  tenderness. 

The  food  of  the  Ahirtin  is  usually  the  larger  winged  insects, 
as  wasps,  bees,  large  beetles,  such  as  the  conunon  Cctouias,  or 
goldsmiths,  which  are  swallowed  whole.  His  llight  jjossesses 
all  the  swiftness,  ease,  and  grace  of  the  tribe.  Like  the  Swift, 
he  glides  along,  as  it  were,  without  exertion.  Sometimes  he  is 
^icen  passing  through  the  crowdeil  streets,  eluding  the  passen- 
Ucrs  with  the  rai)idity  of  thought  ;  at  others  he  sails  among 
the  clouds  at  a  dizzy  height  like  something  almost  ethereal. 

The  Purple  Martin  occurs  tliroughoiu  the  ^hiritime  Provinces, 
though  nowhere  common,  and  is  cxtrcnulv  local  in  its  distriliution. 
It  is  rather  rare  near  Quebec,  but  common  at  Montreal  and 
througliout  Ontario.  Observers  in  Winnipeg  consiikr  the  bird 
abundant  there,  anil  it  is;  said  to  range  north  to  the  Saskatchewan 
valley. 

Small  colonies  of  these  ^bartins  are  found  scattered  through 
Xrw  England  at  widely  separated  localities,  accepting,  usually,  the 
inulTered  hosijitalitv  of  friendlv  villagers  who  provide  them  with 
hniiies,  though  an  occasional  coterie  may  be  found  nesting  in  the 
primitive  manner  of  their  ancesturs,  —  rearing  their  broods  in 
natural  cavities  of  trees  or  in  crevices  of  rocks,  as  was  the  custom 
of  their  race  before  the  European  led  them  into  more  Sybaritic 
habits. 


BARX   SWALLOW. 

Chelidox  ervtiirogaster. 

CuAK.  upper  parts  steel  blue;  breast  rich  chestnut;  belly  paler; 
tail  deeply  forked,  —  outer  feathers  several  inches  longer  than  the  inner 
Lcngtli  5'2  •o>  7?^  inches. 

A'csf.  A^ttached  to  a  rafter  of  a  barn  or  the  side  of  a  cave ;  cwy 
shaped;  made  of  pellets  of  mud  bound  with  grass,  and  lined  with  grass 
and  feathtrs. 

^s\'-  j-^'  white,  variou.  ,y  marked  with  dark  brown,  reddish  brown, 
or  purplish  bro^wn  and  lilac  ;  0.75  X  0.55. 

The  Bam  S^-allou-s  arrive  in  Florida  and  the  maritime  parts 
of  Georgia  ab-out  the  middle  of  ^Larch,  btit  are  not  seen  in  the 
Middle  Slater  before  the  last  of  that  month  or  the  beginning 


BARN  SWALLOW. 


395 


U 


V-:       \ 


Mnut;  belly  paler; 
^er  than  the  mucr 

Ide  of  a  cave ;  -^'V 
Vd  lined  with  gi  i^^ 

,Nvn.  reddish  brown, 
e  maritime  p^^rt. 


not  seen  m 


ihc 


,or  the  beginning 


of  April.  Their  northern  migration  extends  to  the  sources  of 
the  Mississippi,  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  the  fur  countries, 
where,  distant  from  the  habitations  of  man,  they  inhabit  caves, 
]  particularly  those  in  the  limestone  rocks.  They  retire  from 
Massachusetts  about  the  i8th  of  September,  and  are  obsen'ed 
in  the  same  month  and  in  October  ])assing  over  the  penin- 
s!ila  of  Florida  on  their  way  to  tropical  America,  where  they 
probably  pass  the  winter.  I  have  seen  a  straggling  pair  in 
this  vicinity  even  on  the  15th  of  October.  The  fleetness  with 
which  they  move,  and  the  peculiarity  of  their  insect  fare,  are 
circumstances  which  would  impel  a  prompt  transition  to  more 
favorable  climates.  Accidental  fits  of  torpidity,  like  those 
which  occasionally  and  transiently  take  place  with  the  ITum- 
rnng  Bird,  have  undoubtedly  happened  to  Swallows,  without 
proving  anything  against  the  general  migrating  instinct  of  the 
species,  which  as  long  back  as  the  time  of  Anacreon  has  been 
generally  observed. 

Early  in  May  they  begin  to  build  against  a  beam  or  rafter, 
usually  in  the  barn.  The  external  and  rounding  shell  is  made 
of  pellets  of  mud  tempered  with  fine  hay  and  rendered  more 
adhesive  by  the  glutinous  saliva  of  the  bird ;  within  is  laid  a 
bed  of  fine  hay,  and  the  lining  is  made  of  loosely  arranged 
feathers.  They  have  usually  two  broods  in  the  season,  and  the 
last  leave  the  nest  about  the  first  week  in  August.  Twenty  or 
thirty  nests  may  sometimes  be  seen  in  the  same  barn,  and  two 
or  three  in  a  cluster,  where  each  pursues  his  busy  avocation  in 
the  most  perfect  harmony.  \\'hen  the  young  are  fledged,  the 
parents,  by  their  actions  and  twitterings,  entice  them  out  of 
the  nest,  to  exercise  their  wings  within  the  barn,  where  they  sit 
in  rows  amid  the  timbers  of  the  roof,  or  huddle  closely  to- 
gether in  cool  or  rainy  weather  for  mutual  warmth.  At  length 
they  \-enture  out  with  their  parents,  and,  incapable  of  constant 
exercise,  may  now  be  seen  on  trees,  bushes,  or  fence-rails,  near 
•iOme  pond  or  creek  convenient  to  their  tbod  ;  and  their  diet 
is  disgorged  from  the  stomachs  r,r  crops  of  their  attentive 
parents.  When  able  to  provide  for  themselves,  they  arc  still 
often  fed  on  the  wing,  without  either  party  alighting ;  so  aerial 


396 


SINCiING   LIRDS. 


antl  light  are  all  their  motions  that  the  atmosphere  alone 
seems  to  be  their  favorite  element.  In  the  latter  enil  of 
summer,  parties  of  tliese  soeial  birds  may  be  ot'len  seen  by  the 
sides  of  dusty  roads,  in  which  they  seem  pleased  to  bask. 

About  the  middle  of  August  they  leave  the  barns,  and  begin 
to  prepare  for  their  departure,  assembling  in  great  numbers  on 
the  roofs,  still  twittering  with  great  cheerfulness.  Their  son.u' 
is  very  sprightly,  antl  sometimes  a  good  while  continued.  Sonu 
of  these  sounds  seem  like  't'lc  'flc  'fletalit,  uttered  with  ntpid- 
ity  and  great  animation.  A  while  before  their  dei)arture,  thc\ 
are  observed  skimming  along  the  rivers  and  ponds  after  insects 
in  great  numbers,  till  the  approach  of  sunset,  when  they  assem- 
ble to  roost  in  the  reeds. 

The  IJarn  Swallow  is  a  common  bird  throughout  this  Eastern 
Province,  and  nortlnvard  to  the  lower  fur  countries. 
It  winters  in  the  West  Indies  and  Central  America. 


CLIFF   SWALLOW. 

EAVE   SWALLOW. 
PeTROCIIKI.IIx  )N    IX  NirUDXS. 

Char.  Above,  dark  steel  blue  ;  forehead  dull  white;  wings  and  tail 
brownisli  black;  runij)  rufous;  chin,  throat,  and  collar  around  neck  cKi.|i 
chestnut  ;  patch  of  IjIuc  black  on  breast ;  remaining  under-parts  piie 
gray  tinged  with  rufous,     l-ength  about  5)4;  inches. 

A\'st.  Fastened  to  the  side  of  a  cliff  or  the  eavc  of  a  building;  made 
of  pellets  of  mud  and  lined  with  grass  and  feathers.  Usually  gourd- 
shaped,  the  entrance  at  the  mouth  of  the  gourd,  —  sometimes  open  en 
top. 

Zf^'^o-.     4-6;  white,  variously  marked  with  .shades  of  brown  and  purpic 
o.So  X  0.55. 

The  Cliff  Swallows  have  but  recently  come  to  the  notid  oi 
naturalists.  Their  summer  residence  in  the  temperate  ]>:irts 
of  America  is  singularly  scattered.  They  have  long  occupied 
the  regions  of  tlie  Rocky  Mountains,  extending  to  the  banks  of 
the  Columbia,  and  the  cliffs  of  the  Missouri,  and  are  prob:ib!y 
to  be   found  on   other   large   Western  rivers.     Acco-ling  tu 


CLllF   SWALLOW. 


397 


)here    alone 
Iter   end   ul" 
seen  by  ih*^ 
0  bask. 
IS,  awl  begin 
I.  munbers  un 
'I'heir  sun;-: 
inued.    Soiiu 
ed  with  rapid - 
.epariure,  tb^} 
is  after  insects 
en  they  assew- 

)ut  this  Eastern 
ica. 


mlc;  wings  and  tail 

around  neck  d^'-V 

ia  unduv-p-Avls  rile 

Lf  a  bnilding  ;  nu.k 
Ls.  UMially  gf'"''^'- 
]  sometimes  open  <'n 

If  brown  and  puri'l';' 


to  the  noti<  >  ^'t 

temperate  \'.'Vt^ 

^ve  long  occvn)ic'l 

^  to  the  bank^  of 

and  are  prul)ably 

Acco'-bng  tu 


Richardson  they  arc  extremely  abumlant  in  the  fur  countries. 
In  1S15  ihcy  were  obscrvcel  fur  the  first  time  at  Henderson, 
(.111  the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  and  at  >ie\vi)ort  in  Kentucky.  In 
1S17  the  uKule  their  appearance  at  Whitehall,  near  Lake 
(, 'hami)lain,  in  the  western  [jart  of  the  State  of  New  York.  In 
these  I  "laces  their  increase  seems  to  have  kept  pace  with  the 
time  since  their  arrival,  augmenting  their  nests  from  a  single 
(luster  to  several  hundreds  in  the  course  of  four  or  five  years, 
^leillot  observed  one  at  sea  off  Nova  Scotia,  and  they  have,  in 
tait,  long  been  conmionly  known  in  that  Province.  In  iSiS, 
as  I  learn  from  J.  W.  lioott,  lOwj.,  they  began  to  build  at  (/raw- 
ford's,  near  the  base  of  the  White  Mountains  of  New  Hamp- 
shire. In  the  simimer  of  1830  a  few  nests  were  seen  by 
Cicneral  Dearborn  at  Winthrop  in  Maine;  he  had  also  heard 
of  one  at  (lardincr  in  the  same  State.  'I'he  hibernal  retreat  of 
thise  birds  would  ap])ear  to  be  in  the  West  Indies,  as  tliey 
were  seen  in  Porto  Rico  by  Vieilldt,  and  one  was  also  observed 
ill  St.  Domingo  by  the  same  author. 

In  the  Western  States  they  arrive  from  the  South  early  in 
April,  and  almost  innnediately  begin  to  construct  their  nests. 
Tlu'v  commence  their  labor  at  the'  (lawn,  and  continue  their 
()]ierations  until  near  mid-day.  'I'he  nests  are  made  uf  pellets 
of  sandy  mud.  disposed  in  layers  until  the  fabric,  with  its 
intrance,  assumes  the  form  of  a  ])rojecting  retort,  agglutinated 
m  rliffs  or  the  walls  of  buildings  as  convi'iiience  may  offer. 
IVnin  the  nature  of  the  friable  materials  emifloyed,  the  whole 
is  frail,  and  would  crumble  in  the  possession  of  any  but  the 
airy  owners.  The  internal  lining  is  of  straw  and  dried  grass 
nrgligently  disposed  for  the  reception  of  the  eggs.  They  raise 
but  a  single  brood,  who.  with  their  ])arents,  after  se\eral 
attempts  at  mustering,  finally  disappear  in  August  as  suddenly 
as  they  came.  Mr.  Townsend  says  :  "  In  the  neighborhocjd  of 
the  ("oUnnbia  River  the  Cliff  Swallow  attaches  its  nest  to  the 
trunks  of  trees,  making  it  of  the  same  form  and  materials  as 
elsewhere."  The  fice  of  Pillar  Rock,  an  isolat(.'(l  columnar 
mass  of  basalt  near  (!hinhook,  at  the  estuary  of  the  ("(jlumbia, 
was  rendered  still  more  fantastic  and  picturescpie  by  the  nests 


398 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


of  the  Cliff  Swallow  with  which  it  was  faced ;  a  small  colon} 
having  taken  up  their  abode  here.  These  were,  as  usual,  mack 
of  pellets  of  mud,  enclosed  at  the  top,  but  without  the  retort 
necks. 

Like  the  rest  of  their  congeners,  these  birds  are  almost  i)ei 
petually  on  the  wing  in  quest  of  flies  and  other  small  inseci:^ 
which  constitute  their  ordinary  food.  Their  note  does  not 
appear  to  resemble  a  twitter,  and  according  to  Audubon  it 
may  be  imitated  by  rubbing  a  moistened  cork  round  in  thu 
neck  of  a  bottle.  In  Kentucky,  until  the  commencement  of 
incubation,  the  whole  party  resorted  to  roost  in  the  hollow- 
limbs  of  the  buttonwood-trees.  However  curious,  it  is  certain 
that  the  birds  have  but  recently  discovered  the  advantage  uf 
associating  round  the  habitations  of  men. 

Numerous  colonics  of  this  species  are  found  throughout  New 
England  and  the  Maritime  Provinces,  and  a  few  pairs  have  been 
seen  at  Point  de  Monts,  on  the  north  shore  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lav, 
rence,  wliich  is  the  limit  of  its  northward  range  near  the  Atlantic 

It  is  highly  probable  that  the  habit  of  breeding  in  large  eomniu- 
nities,  and  thus  l)ecoming  "local"  in  distribution,  will  account  fur 
the  report  of  their  having  moved  eastward  during  the  first  half  oi 
the  present  century.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  Audubon  discovered  the 
species  in  Kentucky  five  years  before  Say  found  it  among  tin. 
Rockies.  That  the  older  writers  knew  so  little  about  the  liird 
should  not  be  taken  as  evidence  of  its  absence,  —  they  failed  to 
learn  the  history  of  several  equally  common  species  ;  and  after  tin- 
added  years  we  are  still  ignorant  of  the  breeding  habits  of  some  ui 
these  birds. 


a  small  colony 
e,  as  usual,  made 
vithout  the  retort 

s  are  almost  per- 
her  small  insects 
ir  note  does  n^i 
g  to  Audubon  it 
ark  round  in  tin. 
ommencement  of 
ost  in  the  hollow 
irious,  it  is  certain 
I  the  advantage  of 

,d  throughout  New 
'ew  pairs  have  been 
he  Gulf  of  St.  Law 
near  the  Atlantie 
ing  in  large  comnui- 
ion,  will  accounl  lor 
ring  the  first  half  oi 
ubon  discovered  the 
tound  it  among  tbu 
itde  about  the  bird 
ice,  —  they  failed  to 
occies  ;  and  after  llic 
ing  habits  of  some  oi 


TREE   SU'ALLOW 

N'''«-  England  about  ,l,c  n,i  Id   '„?'■:   '"  ,  '''•'""^y'v.^nia  an, 
'"'  over  .he  continent  u"',;^'';,;  ™'' "'-* 'ts  mign- 

fen  seen  by  Dr.  Richard  J,  i,'„'i  '^'""^  "'^^•''  l">ing 
*o  abundantly  dispersed  ov"  ,h  K  ""''f'  "'  «^  i.  i 
tol..n,bia  River,  ^'here  it  I  reeds  ,t  't  "°™'"''>»  '^">"l>e 
'".;■  and  throughout  the  North'rna;  ,  Ti  ,  n'  ■''"""''  ""■'»'" 
'""al,  h-ke  many  other  sn  cic  ;  '  "''""  ''"'"''■  ""  ■'■' 
»™  and  frequently  t,k-e  ,  '  "'''  "'"  ""-■  societi'  of 
'"""-  "'Oen  these', t  ;::;:-:;'  "f  "-■.  -.sion  o/,,,' ' 
"niont  with  the  eaves  of  sl,f    l       ""'"'^""■•'W'-'  '<■  -vill  be 


400 


SL\(;i.\(;  i;iRi)S. 


ing  SLMson  that  the  Harn  Swallow.  In  the  spring  their  pro- 
tractt'd,  angry  contentions,  and  rapid  chatter  are  cjften  heard  in 
the  air.  'I'heir  footl  is  similar  to  that  of  the  sjjccies  above 
mentioned,  and  they  make  a  snajiping  sound  with  the  bill  in 
the  act  of  seizing  their  prey.  They  proceed  to  the  South  ni 
September,  and  according  to  the  observations  of  Audubon 
pass  nearly,  it  not  (juite,  the  whole  winter  in  the  cypress  swani|js 
near  to  New  Orleans,  and  probably  in  the  Mexican  vicinity. 
He  observed  them  about  the  middle  of  December,  and  also 
near  to  the  close  of  January.  '*  During  the  whole  winter  manv 
retired  to  the  holes  around  h(juses,  but  the  greater  numbrr 
resorted  to  the  lakes,  and  spent  the  night  among  the  branches 
of  the  wax-myrtle,"  whose  berries  at  this  season  afford  them  a 
support  on  which  they  fatten,  and  are  then  considered  as  excel- 
lent food.  About  sunset  they  usually  began  to  flock  together 
at  a  i)eculiar  call,  ami  were  then  seen  almost  in  clouds  moving 
towards  the  neighboring  lagoons  or  the  estuaries  of  the  Mi>- 
sissipi)i.  Before  alighting  they  perform  their  aerial  evolution^ 
to  reconncjitre  the  place  of  roosting,  soon  after  which  ihrv 
rapidly  descend  as  it  were  in  a  spiral  vortex  almost  like  iIk' 
fall  of  a  water-spout,  and  when  within  a  few  feet  ol  the  w:ix- 
myrtles  they  disperse  and  settle  at  leisure  ;  but  their  twittering 
and  the  motions  of  their  wings  are  heard  throughout  the  ni,L;ht. 
At  dawn  they  rise,  at  first  flying  low  over  the  waters  which 
they  almost  touch,  and  then  rising  gradually  separate  in  qno-^! 
of  food.  During  their  low  flight  numbers  of  them  are  oltin 
killed  by  canoe-men  with  the  mere  aid  of  their  paddk- 
(Aububon).  This  predilection  for  the  borders  of  lakes  ami 
ponds  led  some  of  the  ancient  writers  to  l)elieve  that  Swallow- 
retired  to  the  bottom  of  the  Wuter  during  the  winter;  ami  I 
some  fishermen  on  the  coast  of  the  Baltic  jiretended  to  havt 
taken  them  up  in  their  nets  in  large  knots,  clinging  togelherj 
by  their  bills  and  claws  in  a  state  of  torpitlity. 


pring  tlu'ir  \)U>- 
:c  often  heard  in 
ic  species  alxjve 
[  with  the  bill  in 
lo  the  South  m 
)ns   of  Audubon 
e  cypress  swamps 
Mexican  vicinity, 
cember,  and  also 
hole  winter  many 
;  greater  number 
long  the  branches 
Lson  afford  them  a 
insidered  as  excel- 
1  to  Hock  togelhtr 
I  in  clouds  movin;^ 
mries  of  the  Mi>- 
ir  aerial  evolutions 
after  which  they 
tex  almost  like  the 
vv  feet  of  the  wax- 
but  their  twittering 
roughout  the  ni.uht. 
r  the  waters  whuh 
ly  separate  in  cinost 
;  of  them  are  otun 
I    of   their   paddK- 
)rders  of  lakes  ami 
lelieve  that  Swallow- 
ng  the  winter;  am: 
c  pretended  to  havi 
)ts,  clinging  togelhc: 
ity. 


imi,  / 


"■''^■'•^'  a  little  cirv  era  ,       '  -*  '^^^  ^'^'^P.  a.,d  h^XI      '  T''"'  ■'  -f"-""! 

'"■;■;""■">•  take  posses^   '      '  rr  "'  ""'°'^  ''»"•  "-  v 

1"  «irfacc.  „f  the  |„nk      ^"\f    ''■''-'  "r  }  fcci  •„.,„,  ,h^. 

:'-"^^-  M>.  when  :  t:;     t™"-'"«  '"-•-. ^Mr^^Mjr 

«;f' -f.  'hey  also  u.e  .  e  'fee    "'f  "":""""  ^  '^>"--M 
"'I'lh  of  J  or  ?  feet      \r  ,        '  '-""""Ue  tb;.  '-■■    ...  , ' 

't^'e^^cSi^o/^^s:;::^-^*-^.!.-^^:;::^ 

'  ,'a'-'«c,r- 


4o: 


SiNCiINC;    LIkDS. 


all)  two  broods  in  tht"  season,  ami  on  the  egress  ol  the  youn.i; 
in  the  latter  end  of  May  the  piratical  Crows  often  await  their 
oijportimity  to  destroy  theiu  as  they  issue  from  the  nest.  In 
rocky  comitries  the  birds  often  take  possession  of  the  ckts 
on  the  banks  of  rivers  for  their  dwellin;^',  and  sonieliine^.  tin  \ 
content  theniseKes  with  the  holes  of  trees. 

'I'heir  \-oi(  e  is  only  a  low  twitter  of  ^hort  lis])ing  notes  ;  anil 
while  busily  passing  backwanls  and  forwards  in  the  air  aroumi 
their  numerous  burrows,  they  seem  at  a  distance  almost  simil n 
to  hiving  bees.  As  they  arrive  earlier  than  other  species,  tin 
cold  and  unsettlc<l  weather  often  drives  them  for  refuge  in 
their  ht)les,  where  they  cluster  together  fur  warmth,  and  Wam 
thus  been  found  almost  reduced  to  a  state  of  torpidity.  l)wrl 
ling  thus  shut  uj),  they  are  often  troubled  with  swarms  of  infi-.i 
ing  insects,  resembling  fleas,  which  assemble  in  great  numbci> 
around  their  holes.  They  begin  to  depart  to  the  South  fidin 
the  close  of  September  to  the  middle  of  October.  Althon^li 
they  avoid  ilwelling  near  houses,  they  do  not  lly  from  settlcil 
vicinities  ;  and  parties  of  six  or  more,  several  miles  from  tlnir 
nests,  have  been  seen  skimming  through  the  streets  of  adja(  i.ni 
villages  in  the  province  of  Normandy. 

They  are  found  on  both  sides  of  North  America,  from  tlu 
shores  of  the  Atlantic  to  the  borders  of  the  Columbia,  and  in 
all  the  intermediate  region  suited  to  their  manner  of  breediiiL-. 
According  to  Audubon,  they  winter  in  great  numbers  in  Florida, 
and  breed  from  Labrador  to  Louisiana. 

If  the  Bank  Swallow  was  found  in  Labrador  bv  Auclul)on  il  lub 
.since  changed  its  Jiabitat  to  the  extent  of  deserting  that  couiitn. 
for  during  recent  years  only  one  example  has  been  seen  on  th 
northern  side  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  though  colonies  liavi 
been  found  on  Anticosti  and  the  IVLagdalen  Islands. 

\w  the  Far  West  these  birds  range  to  much  higher  latitude 
few  having  been  met   with    along  the   valley   of   the   Mackciu:.] 
River.     The  winter  resorts  of  the  species  are  in  South  Amcrira. 


ss  of  the  ycjuiv^ 
)flcn  await  tin  r 
n  the  iicsl.  Ill 
m  of  the  ckl'.^ 
somcliint's  thty 

[nn\i,  notes  ;  am! 
n  the  air  arouini 
;e  ahnost  similir 
ther  species,  tin 
m  for  refuge  in 
arinth,  and  haw 
orpiiHty.     1  >\vel- 
swarms  of  infi  i 
in  great  numlui^ 
J  the  South  fiwiii 
tober.     Althou-h 
t  lly  from  settlt  il 
miles  from  tin  ir 
trcets  of  adjacent 

America,  frcjm  tlu 
Columbia,  and  in 
mncr  of  breeding'. 
.unbers  in  Florida. 


by  Audubon  it  In- 
ertin.ti  that  counti}, 

been  seen  on  tli. 
oujxh  colonics  liavi 
nds. 

higher  latitudLS,  .. 

of  the  Mackenzie 
I  South  America. 


R0L-c;ii-wiX(;i.^  su 


ALLUW. 


403 


ROLTIH-Wrv 


Si;:  I 


^'''-'*  swai.i 


OW 


•<'"'oi'/;:kv.\ 


■c.  grayish  Ijr.j 


M:kK(i>l,.\.V,,. 


'\vn  ; 


u.."„,ar;;!,"""^  !""«"• 


'^'"^■atli.  l)iowni.s| 


iiMiallv  near 


•1  stream 


liitc 


'y  "(  a  ban], 


II 


'le  tone 


4-7  ;  wl 


W 


"laclu  of  tl 
°-7S  X  0,50 


'^  til   111  a  ere 


I 


\  lec  of  a  St 


''  K'-ay,  whitcnini, 
;.'"«"' 5  to  5.^  i,„.|  ' 


on 


y  i;'a.s.^  lined  with  fcath 


'Jiic  wall 


er.s. 


'ics. 


Ill-  hiiiigc, 


^  '-ire  indcbt,,!  to  Audul 


'•'^•■'^  so  much  allied  to 


"ear  jl 


th 


'on  for  the  d 


■^Wou  Sara,   an<I  aft 


t-'  prece(h"n! 


isco\-c.ry  of  th 


who  fi 


IS  SJ)t'- 


abits  he   say 


'•'l^'tual  residence 


>'   nothing ;    1 


;'^^^-"-;!^  in  Sotith  Carol 


f>it  obser\-ed   it 


>iit    it    i 


'"'ly  I>rove  to   be  f; 


P^r^iaps  the  vail 


'■•"•^■'■.   and  he   think 


nia.     Of  it. 


s   it.>- 


^^y^  of  the  Cohnid 


)ia. 


ir  to   the   westwanl 


'•'^ularly.  b„\v 


''^^^'  it  is  aliund 


""  '"  bnti.sli  Col 


'^■■'^'ern   raun:il   1 


v^  ""'-•  ""\vever.  (hrou-houf  fh     t-  '-•""mhi;,.     /i  , 

.^'"•k,  Ohio,  and  nUn.:..   '*""'   "'^'   I-'i'^^tcTn  Stat...  ,„,..„,   . 


In 


_•^nd  Illinois,  aiul 
parts  of  Ontario 


'roviiice 


'cciirs 


in 


found 

•appearance  and  hal 


spariagly  i,,  Connect 


'-■>'  'i'>rt!,  t(,  \(^, 


w 


'^■^"-    It  has  also 


-/'-t  it  may  ho  ovcflo; 
';'.;^'yer,  confine  its  cl.oi 
P'aceits  nest  amid  th 


>its  it  so  closely 


ed  bv  tl 


re 


"ICC  of  a 


"-■  casual  oh 


•sembles  the  JJank  S 


nesiin 


^^•rvcr;  it  doe 


wal 


s  n(n. 


t^f  a  huildin 


<-'  stones  of 
o'-  even  in  a  knot-hole. 


JJ  -sjte  to  a  sand-bank,  I 
'  "•^""••'^'■"'ire.inacreviec 


an 


K  ix(;r,  TRD. 


VjEe  martin. 


'rNKAXMS     INR.WXUS. 

CilAK.     Above,    Iilackisli    ;i>li,   darkci    on    the   heail ;  beiiercth,  v^\)iw. 
br-j;ist    tinged  with  ,^l■ay :  tail  black,  tipped  n-ith  liroad  1)and  of   v.'::l 
Cr'jwn  with  concealed  patch  of  yellow  or  orange  red.     Length  8  m 
Miclies. 

Xcs/.  ( )n  a  branch  or  in  fork  of  a  tree,  in  garden  or  pasture  ;  cim- 
posed  nf  twigs,  roots,  and  moss,  lined  witli  roots,  horse-hair,  and  fcatlicrs 
The  exterior  is  loosely  laid,  but  the  interior  is  neat  and  compact. 

£^\'s.  4-5;  creamy  white,  spotted  with  light  and  dark  brown;  :.9' 
X  0.70. 


KINGBIRD. 


405 


kroad  band  of   V' •'- 
|,ed.     Length  ^^'^ 

kn  or  i>asture;^'^; 
vse-ha-.r,  and  featl-r. 

and  compact.  ^ 

nd  dark  brown  .  -)- 


This  well-known,  remarkable,  and  ]uignaci(jus  l)ir>l  lakL>  up 
his  summer  residence  in  ;ili  llic  inlernKiliale  region  iVuni  the 
temperate  [)arls  of  Mexico  to  tlie  uninhabited  and  remote  inte- 
rior of  Canada.     In  all  this  vast  geographical  range  the  King- 
i)irtl  seeks  his  food  and  rears  hi^  voung.     According  to  Audu- 
bon  they  appear  in   l,(jui.-)iana  by  the  middle  of  March:  .uid 
.•bout    the    20th    of   .\i)ril    Wikon    remarked   their   arrival    in 
I'ennsylvania  in  small  ])arties  of  five  or  six  ;  but  they  are  seldom 
-een  in  this  part  of  New   llngk.nd  before  the   middle  of  May. 
They  are  iiow  silent   and   i)eaceab!e,  until   they  begin  to  jiair, 
and  form,  their  nest:  ,  which  takes  [dace   from  the   first   to   the 
1;  t  week  in  May  or  early   in  June,  according  to  the  ad\ance- 
uient   of   the   season   in   the   latitudes  of  40  and  43  degrees. 
The   nest   is  usually  built   in   the  orchartl,  on   the   horizontal 
hrancn  of  an  api)le  or  pear  tree,  >omelimes  in  an  i;ak,  in  the 
adjoining  forest,  at  various  heights  from    the  ground,  seldom 
care.ully  concealeti,  and  firmly  fixed  at  the  bottom  to  the  suii- 
inating  twigs  of  the  branch.     The  outside  consists  of  coarse 
stalks  of  dead  grass  and  wiry  weeds,  the  whole  well  connected 
and  bedded  with  cut-weed  down,  tow,  or  an  oc(  asional  r(.)]ie- 
varn  and  wool  ;  it  is  then  lined  with  dr\-,  slender  urass.  root 
fibres,   and   horsediair.     The  eggs   are   generally    7,   to   5,  yel- 
Inuish  white,  and  marked  with   a   few  large,  well-defined  sjiots 
uf  dee])  and  bright  brown.     They  often  build  anil  hatch  twice 
in  the  season. 

I'hc  Kingl)ird  has  no  song,  only  a  shrill,  guttural  twitter, 
somewhat  like  that  of  the  Martin,  but  no  way  musical.  .\t 
times,  as  he  sits  watching  his  prey,  he  calls  to  hi^  mate  with  a 
harsh  tshaip,  rather  quickly  jironounced,  and  attended  wiili 
some  action.  As  insects  api)roach  him,  or  as  he  darts  after 
them,  the  snapping  of  his  bill  is  heard  like  the  shutting  of  a 
watch-case,  and  is  the  certain  grave  of  his  prey,  ileetlcs, 
irrasshoppers,  crickets,  and  winged  insects  of  all  descri])tions 
Klin  his  principal  summer  food.  I  have  also  seen  him  col- 
lecting the  canker-worms  from  the  Idrn.  Towards  autmnn.  as 
'■::i  us  k'nds  of  berries  rii>en,  they  constitiUe  a  very  consider- 
i''    '.nd   irvorite  part  of  his  subsistence  :  but  with  the  excep- 


406 


FLYCATCHERS. 


tion  of  cunants  (of  wliich  he  only  cats  ])L'rhai)s  when  confint'd), 
he  refuses  all  exotic  ])ro(lurtions,  coiitentinL?  himself  with 
blarkherries,  whortle-berries,  the  berries  of  the  sassafras,  cornel, 
vilnirnuni,  elder,  ])oke,  and  five-leaved  ivy.  Raisins,  forei,un 
currants,  grapes,  cherries,  peaches,  pears,  and  ai)ples  were 
never  even  tasted  when  offered  to  a  bird  of  this  kind,  which  ] 
had  many  months  as  my  pensioner  :  of  the  last,  when  roasted, 
sometimes,  however,  a  few  mouthfuls  were  relished  in  the 
absence  of  other  more  agreeable  diet,  lierries  he  always  swal- 
lowed whole,  grasshoppers,  if  too  large,  were  pounded  and 
broken  on  the  tloor  as  he  held  them  in  his  bill.  To  manage  thr 
larger  beetles  was  not  so  easy  ;  these  he  struck  repeatedly  against 
the  ground,  and  then  turned  them  from  side  to  side,  by  throwiuL: 
them  dexterously  into  the  air,  after  the  manner  of  the  Toucan, 
and  the  insect  was  imiformly  caught  reversed,  as  it  descendid. 
with  the  agility  of  a  ])ractised  cui)-and-bal]  player.  At  length 
the  pieces  of  the  beetle  were  swallowed,  and  he  remained  still 
to  digest  his  morsel,  tasting  it  distinctly  soon  after  it  enterxl 
the  stomach,  as  became  obvious  by  the  nuninating  motion  of 
his  mandibles.  When  the  soluble  portion  was  taken  u]),  lar-e 
pellets  of  the  indigestil)le  legs,  wings,  and  shells,  as  likev.iM- 
the  skins  and  seeds  of  berries,  were,  in  half  an  hour  or  le^s, 
brought  up  and  ejected  from  the  mouth  in  the  manner  of  the 
Hawks  and  Owls.  When  other  food  failed  he  apjieared  very 
well  satisfied  with  fresh  minced  meat,  and  drank  water  (w- 
cpiently.  even  during  the  severe  frosts  of  January,  which  hi 
endured  without  much  difficulty;  basking,  however,  like  hii- 
genes,  in  the  fet'ble  beams  of  the  sun,  which  he  followed  rouml 
the  room  of  his  confint'ment.  well  satisfied  when  no  intniilcr 
or  companion  threw  him  into  the  shade.  Some  very  C'M 
evenings  ho  had  the  sagacity  to  retire  under  tiie  shelter  i  if  a 
depending  bed-quilt,  was  very  much  pleased  with  the  wari'itli 
and  brilliancy  of  lam]vlight,  and  would  eat  freely  i  an\  Iv  ;' 
of  the  night.  rna(^(|uninted  with  the  dece])tive  nature  oi 
shadows,  he  sometimi's  snatched  at  them  for  the  stibstan'i^ 
they  resembled.  I'nliki.'  the  r/cwn-,  he  retired  to  rest  '.vitliout 
hiding    his    head    in    the    wing,    and   was  extreniclv   wat'  hin!. 


i 


KINGI'.IRI). 


407 


n  confined ) . 


,;il"ras,c()riH'l, 
isins,  fovci'^i, 

kind,  Nvhic-^^  \ 
when  roasted, 
■Ushcd  in  t^H' 
,e  always  swaV 
pouncK'd  and 
Vo  mana'^c  iVu 
j^eatedlyagainsi 

,de,  by  ihrowm- 
•  of  the  'I  ouran, 
^s  "it  descended. 

ayer.     M  ^-'^^^.^ 
-jc  remained  stiU 

after  it  entered 
inatin:^  motion  of 
vs  taken  up,  lar-c 
,be\\s,  as  likevn^c 
f  an  hour  or  ie-s, 

he  manner  of  the 

he  avv^'^^i^^''^  '■"'■' 
arank  water  lie- 
anuary.  which  lu 
however,  hkc  Du'- 
Ihc  followed  rouivl 
when  no  intrndor 
Seme  very  roW 
ler  the  shelter- 't  a 
1  with  the  warmth 
freely     •  ^un  V    ' 
,.eptive    nature   -^ 
,-,,,  the  snhst^'i^'"- 
,vdtMrcstw>tl-'>)' 

Utrem- ly  ^^"^^t' 


th(;ugh  not  abroad  till  after  sunrise.  His  taritnrnity  and  disin- 
(lination  to  friendship,  and  familiarity  in  confinement,  were  >trik- 
iuL,' traits.  His  restless,  i|uick,  and  side-,L,dancing  e\e  enabled 
iiim  to  follow  the  motions  of  his  llyini;  innect  prey,  and  to  as- 
<  crtain  precisely  the  infallible  instant  of  atta<  k.  He  readily 
.  iu,L,'ht  morsels  of  food  in  his  bill  before  they  reached  the 
ground,  when  ihnjwn  across  the  room,  and  on  these  ocia- 
Mons  scemeil  pleased  with  makini;  the  necessary  exertion, 
lie  had  als(j  a  ])r;ictice  of  cautiously  stretching  out  his  neck, 
like  a  snake,  and  jK'eping  alx^ut  either  to  obtain  sight  of  his 
food,  to  watch  any  a]iproach  of  danger,  or  to  examine  any- 
thing that  api)eared  strange.  At  length  we  became  so  will 
:i(i|uainted  that  when  very  hungry  he  would  ex])ress  his  gr;;ti- 
t'lde  on  being  fed  by  a  shrill  twitter  and  a  li\el\-  look,  which 
WIS  the  more  remarkable  as  at  nearly  all  other  tinier  he  was 
(.iitirely  silent. 

In  a  natural  state  he  takes  his  station  on  the  top  of  an 
apple-tree,  a  stake,  or  a  tall  weed,  and  betwixt  the  amusement 
of  his  scpieaking  twitter,  emjdoys  himself  in  darting  after  his 
inject  food.  Occasionally  he  is  seen  hovering  over  the  field, 
\vi!.h  beating  wing,  almost  like  a  Hawk,  sur\"eying  the  grop.ndi  or 
lud)age  for  grasshopi:)crs,  which  are  a  favorite  diet.  At  other 
times  these  birds  may  be  (observed  in  companies  flickering  over 
"^till  waters  in  the  same  employment. —  the  gratification  of  a[)pe- 
titi'.  Now  and  then,  during  the  heat  of  summer,  they  are  seen 
to  dip  and  l)athe  in  the  watery  mirror  ;  and  with  this  washing, 
ih\ing.  and  phuning,  they  appear  to  be  both  gr:,tinLd  and 
imused.  During  the  season  of  their  sojourn  the  pair  .ire 
iifii  n  seen  moving  about  in  company,  with  a  rapid  ([ui\erijig 
of  the  wings  and  a  (-ontinued  tremulous,  shrieking  twitter. 
I'll'  ir  energetic  and  amusing  motions  are  mo^t  commonly  per- 
t'lniied  in  warm  and  line  weather,  and  continue,  with  little 
iiiti  rruption,  until  towards  the  close  of  August. 

<  'ne  of  the  most  remarkable  traits  in  the  character  of  the 
Kiii.;liird  is  the  courage  and  affection  which  he  displ.iy-  for  his 
mr,.'  and  young  :  for  on  his  fir>t  arri\  d  he  is  nithcr  uniiil.  and 
rcblily  dodges  before  the  Swallow  and  I'urple  M  utin.     Imleed 


40S 


FLVCATCIIEkS. 


at  thi^  season  I  have  seen  the  Spotted  Sandi)iper  drive  away  a 
jiair  of  Kingbirds  because  ihcy  ha])i)encd  t(j  approach  thv 
premise?  of  her  neisl.  iiut  he  now  becomes,  on  this  importaiii 
occasion,  -y^j  tenacious  of  his  rights  as  readily  to  commence  ih' 
attack  agaJnsl  all  his  feathered  enemies,  and  he  passes  se\eral 
month-  (A  the  summer  in  a  scene  of  almost  perpetual  contest  ; 
and  not  overrating  his  liostile  jiowers,  he  generally  finds  mean- 
to  come  off  with  iminmity.  1-^agles.  Hawks,  Crows,  Jays,  and 
in  slaort  evcrv'  bird  which  excite^  his  suspicion  by  its  inten 
tionai  or  acciflental  ai)proach,  are  attacked  with  skill  aivl 
courage  :  he  dives  upon  t!ie  heads  and  backs  of  the  largi  i 
mtruder?,  who  become  so  annoyed  and  tcjrmented  as  willin.,!} 
to  make  a  precipitate  retreat.  He  jmrsues  his  foes  sonieliin' - 
lor  a  mile  :  and  at  length,  assured  of  contiuest,  he  returns  to  hi-- 
prominci.i  watch-ground,  again  (piivering  his  wings  in  gratr.l  - 
tion.  arj.i  raj)id!y  uttering  his  shrill  and  triumphant  notes.  11.. 
is  th'.refo're  the  friend  of  the  farmer,  as  the  scourge  of  the  ]»il- 
ferers  ar/i  jitinderer^,  of  his  croji  and  l)arn-ynrd.  l!ut  that  lu 
might  nol  SjC-  perfectly  harmless,  he  lias  sometimes  a  i")roi)en-;ty 
for  feeding;  on  the  \aluahle  tenants  of  the  bee-hive  :  f jr  tlu-t 
he  watcher,  .tnrl  exiiltingl}-  tuitlers  at  the  prospect  of  success 
as  they  wiing  their  way  engaged  in  busy  emplcjyment  ;  his  cjuick- 
sighte<i  cy«.t  now  follow  them,  until  one.  more  suitable  than  tlu 
rest,  Ix-corats  his  favorite  mark.  TJiis  selected  victim  is  ly 
some  faninitr-  he'ieveil  to  be  a  drone  rath'.T  than  the  stingini: 
neutr;;!  Wiorker.  The  selective  discernment  of  the  eyes  ot 
this  bird  raa-  often  amused  me  :  berries  oi  different  kinds,  luM 
to  my  (domcitic  Kingbinl,  however  similar,  were  rejet-ud 
or  snatcr.eif!  as  they  suited  his  instinct,  with  the  nici-i 
discrirniuition. 

As  the  young  acquire  strength  f  )r  tlieir  tiistant  journey,  tin. y 
may  be  *»e4:n  m  August  and  Sejitember  assembling  together  in 
ahnost  nlent,  greedy,  and  watclitul  parties  of  a  thjzen  or  nn  ix. 
feeding  on  various  berries,  ])articularl)'  those  of  the  sass>ifr,i> 
ami  cornel,  from  whence  they  sometimes  drive  away  sm;;il(.r 
birds,  3nd  likewise  spar  and  chase  eacli  other  as  the  su]  ply 
diminishes.     Indeed,  my  domestic  allowed  no  other  bird  t' 


)er  drive  a\va\-  ;i 
J    approach    ilv: 
n  this  important 
J  commence:  [h' 
c  passes  sevcr.il 
ri)ctual  contest  , 
rally  finds  mean- 
J  rows,  Jays,  and 
on  by  its  inten 
with    skill    an-! 
ks  of  the  larger 
.•nted  as  willingly 
s  foes  sometimes 
he  returns  to  his 
wings  in  gratul  - 
ihant  notes.     Ilv 
ourge  of  the  jiil- 
ird.     r.ut  that  Ik 
mes  a  j)ro])en>ity 
e-hive  :   for  the-t. 
ospect  of  success 
,-ment  ;  his  (]ui(k- 
suitable  than  tla 
•led  victim   is  ly 
than  the  stinging 
t    of  the  eyes  of 
ferent  kinds,  held 
r,    were    rejecuil 
with    the    niii^:-! 


I^fNfJnfRf). 


409 


'i\'^'  in  peace   near  him  uhm   f     i- 

'i-^'«h  lame  of  a  win.'    J   ^  ,f  "'*'T  7^  ^''"''^^  '^-'i  ;  and 

-I'n.d  and   reven<..  ^^.i,  ''"''''''^  ''''  opportunitv  for 

'--lin.  his  usurped  t^n:::  T:' "  '"^'■">' '--  ^- 

'•^'fenns  to  leave   the   Vnlu.^t'   .        ^.^'I^^^''"'^^''- '^e  Kingbird 


^vmter  in  tropical  A 


S(.) 


lUthw 


■ard,  Audubon 


lir  with  great  ease 


d   8l 
merica.      f) 

reinark 


ites  and 


11  r 


proceeds  to  pass  tj 


at  a 


^  that   ihe\-  I] 


''V-'  the  j,eriod  of 


'nigrati( 


le 


)ii 


lontinuc  their 


consider 


'he   first  of  Octoi 
^^"'thin  the  limits  , 

•^h  lovc'-s  of  bi, 
Miller  for  lier 
''i'-d,  whieh  ; 


silent  retreat  th 


"■'r,  when    th 


rou'di 


,.f  t 


e\' 


y  and  ,viil  throtigh  the 

■ation:   and   they  thus 

tf'^out   the  night  until  about 


ible   el 


'<-■   Middle  Stat 


are    no    j 


lojiger    t 


,0 


Je    seen 


es. 


■(IS 


and  of  justice  will 


'loble  defence  of  tl 


'I'll 


t-   systeniatist 


■tP])eared   in  tl 


'le 


•■^  'lavc  (luhbcd 


ns  chivalrous  a 
-Ulaiuic  Monthh  ' 


diank   Mrs.  (Jlivc-  'J'l 


ionic 


air. 


'•'cnd.s  know  him  to  be 


'ii'n  •■  tyrant    of 


'"'  "nich  maligned 
■  for  A 


iigust.  i,S 


^  true  kni-lit.   th 


he    t\rant> 


le  real   -kii)-  of  t 


hut 
'le 


NoTK .  -  The  A 


tyniinius  in  I 


other  lower  part 


)enig  lio-ht 


KKAXs.AS    K'j: 


asliv 


•V';fWKo(r.  7>crfuali. 


ellow.      Ii 


■'■ay  on  head,  neck,  and 


'>)  '-Mi-x?,  from 


some  examples  of't!,e  U 


si-'c  the  t 


Jts  habitat  is  the  W 


c'stern  f 


W)  birds  are  much  t! 


'"  'he  Middle  and 


^'•^'L'rn  ])Iains  ;  but 


orm  buiiiw-  sh\r||(i^ 


"■east,  and 


le  same. 


articr, 


Aorthern  St; 


tes. 


Specimens  have  1 


-'een  taken 


tant  journey,  tinv 
iibling  together  in 
a  dozen  or  nn-ri. 
e  of  the  sass;ii"r.^ 
rive  away  sm;'.ller 
her  as  the  suiply 
no  odier  bird  tn 


ULIVL-SIDKI)    J'lACATCHKR. 

CONTOI'US    I!()R1;ALIS. 

CilAK.  AIxH'c.  dull  olive  Iirnwn,  chukcr  r)n  head,  paler  nn  rum]) ;  tn  ' 
du>ky.  tipped  with  gray;  wiiiys  dusky,  with  grav  hand;  lower  parts  y^  :- 
lowish  white  ;  flanks  pale  olive.     Length  7 '4  to  S  inches. 

.W.f/.  Saddled  on  hori/onial  limb  of  tall  tree;  of  twigs  and  grass  lini d 
with  grass  and  moss. 

•^'^CC-f-  3-5;  creamy  white,  spotted  near  larger  end  with  reddish  brown 
and  pale  purple;  0.S5  X  o.(')5. 

This  remarkable  s])eeies.  wliidi   appertains  to  the  groiii)  of 
Pcwecs,  was  ol.tained  in  tlie  woods  of  Mount  Auburn,  in  tlii^ 
vicinity,  by  Mr.  John  Hethune.  of  Cambridge,  on  the    7th  of 
June,    i^'.^o.     'I'his,    :\nd    a    second    s]-»ccimen    ac(juired    soon 
aflerwnrds,  were  females  on  the  poin:    of  imnibation.     A  thin! 
indi\idu;il   of  the   same    sex   was  killed   on   the    2Tst  of  Juiu. 
i.Sj;r.     They  were   all    of  them    fat,    and    had   their  stomachs 
filled  with  toni  fragments  of  wild  bees,  wasps,  and  other  sim- 
ilar insects.      I  have  watched  the  motions  of  two  other  li\  in;: 
individuals  who  aj^peared  tyrannical  and  qtiarrclsome  even  with 
each  other :  the  attack  was  always  accompanied  with  a  whir- 
ring,  querulous   twitter.      Their  dis]Mite   was   apparently,   like 
that   of  savages,  about  the  rights  of  their  respective  huntiii,^- 
grounds.     One  of  the  birds,   the   female,  whom   I  usually  -:nv 
alone,  was  uncommonly  sedentary.     The  territory  she  sceii'! 


( )I.IVE-S[I)EI)   FI.VCATCHKK. 


411 


[.  \nvvcr  parts  yc-1- 
:^s  and  grass  \in.a 
^UhrccUUsUbv.nsn 

U)   the   ^VOUV  <'^" 

t  \u\)urn,  in  tV- 

.,  on  ibe   7t^^  "' 

'  acq^^^^^^^   """"" 
vbalion.     A  ib^-^ 

^^^     2XSt    of    ]W-- 

\  their  stoma*  li~ 
.   awl  other  >>=>! 
f  uvo  other  hvm;: 
fclsome  even  ^^Hl^ 
nied  with  a  whir- 
apparently,  i'.l^^' 
;pe.-tive  huniinc 

Lm  1  ^^^"^^^>' '  ■' 

Iritory  she  seevu^^'i 


determined  U)  claim  was  cirrumscribed  by  the  tops  of  a  cluster 
of  tall  \'irj;inia  junipers  or  red  cedars,  and  an  adjoininL;  idm 
.md  decayed  cherry-tree.      I''roin  this  sovereign  station,  in  the 
solitude  of  a  barren  and  sandy  piece  of  forest  ailjoiniiii;  Mount 
Auburn,  she  kept  a  sharp  lookotU   for  passing  insects,  and  [jur- 
■.ued  them  with  great  vigor  and  -success  as  soon  as  they  ap- 
peared, sometimes  chasing  them  to  tlie  groimd,  and  generally 
resuming  her  ])erch  with  an    additional   mouthful,  which   she 
^wallowed  at  leisure.     On  descending  to  her  station  she  occa- 
sionally quivered   her  wings  and  tail,  erected  her  blowsy  caj), 
Mid  kept  up  a  whistling,  oft-repeated,  whining  call  of'///  '///, 
then  varied  to  '/"//  ///,  and  '///  />//,  also  at  times  '/>//  '///  '/// 
'pi/y  'pip  'pip.  'p/i  'pit  pip,  or  7//,   7//  'fit,  and   7//   7//.     'J'his 
>hrill.  ])ensive,  and  ([uick  whistle  sometimes  dropped  almost  to 
a  whisper  or  merely  '//?.      The  ti  ne  was  in  fact  much  like  that 
(if  the  '/////  'phti  'pliii  of  the   h'ish  Mawk.     The  male,  however, 
besides  this  note,  at  long  intervals  had  a  call  of  \-h'phchic  or 
'li'p/u'/'cd,  almost  exactly  in  the  tone  of  the  circular  tin  whistle, 
nr  ])ird-call,  being  loud,  shrill,  and  guttural  at  the  commence- 
ment,    d'he   nest  of  this   jjair   I   at  length   discovered   in   the 
hori/ontal  branch  of  a  tall  red  cedar  40  or  50  feet  from  the 
j^round.      It  was  forme(l  much  in  the  manner  nf  the  Kingliird, 
externally  made  of  interlaced  dead   twigs  of  the  cedar,  inter- 
nally of  the  wiry  stolons  of  the  connnon  ciiKjuetbil,  dry  grass, 
and  some  fragments  of  branching  /,/V//^v/ or  L'siim.      It  con- 
tained 3  y(nmg  and  had  prol)abl\'  4  eggs.     'I'he  eggs  had  been 
haiihed  about  the  20th  of  June,  so  that  the  pair  had  arrived  in 
th's  vicinity  about  the  close  of  May. 

I'he  young  remained  in  the  nest  no  less  than  23  days,  and 
Were  fed  from  the  first  on  beetles  and  ])erfect  insects,  which 
appeared  to  have  been  wholly  digested,  without  any  regurgi- 
tation. Towards  the  close  of  this  ])rotracted  period  the  young 
Mip.ld  lly  with  all  the  celerity  of  the  ]xirents  ;  and  tliey  prob- 
ably went  to  and  from  the  nest  re])eatedly  before  abandoning 
it.  The  male  was  at  this  time  extremely  watchful,  and  fre- 
qtieiitly  followed  me  from  his  usual  residence,  at'ter  my  paying 
him  a  visit,  nearly  half  a  mile.     These  birds,  which  I  watched 


iw^^ipl 


412 


FLYCATCHERS. 


on  several  successive  days,  were  no  way  timid,  and  allowed 
me  for  some  lime  previous  i(;  visiting  their  nest  {u  investigate 
them  and  the  premises  they  had  chosen,  without  showing  any 
sign  of  alarm  or  i)articular  observation. 

riiis  binl  appears  to  have  been  discovered  in  the  fur  coun 
tries  about  the  same  time  as  in  the  United  States.     According: 
to  Dr.   Richardson,  the  specimen,  figured  so  spiritedly  in  tin. 
'•  Northern  Zoology  of  Canada,"  was  shot  on  the  banks  of  iIk 
Saskatchewan  as  it  was  flying  near  the  ground. 

In   1S32,  about  the  middle  of  June,  the  same  pair  apjiar- 
ently  had  again  taken  possession  of  a  small  junijjer  not  more 
than  300  yards  from  the  tree  they  had  occui)ied  the  precediui: 
year,  about  14  or  15  feet  up  which  they  had  fixed  their  tliii. 
twiggy  nest  as  in  the  preceding  year.     It  contained  4  eggs,  on 
wliich  the   lemale   had   commenced    sitting;  these,   cxcei^t   in 
their  superior  size,    were   precisely   similar  with   those   of  llr 
Wood  I'ewec, — yellowish-cream   color,  with  dark-brown  ami 
lavender-jnirple  spots,  rather  thinly  dispersed.     Ueing  unfortu- 
nate enough  to  shake  out  the  two  eggs  I   intended  to  leave  in 
the  nest,  the  pair  had  to  commence  their  labors  of  i)reparing 
for  a  ijrogeny  anew ;  and  a  few  days  after,  a  second  nest  was 
made  in  another  Virginian  juniper  at  a   very   short   distaiK  c 
from  the  preceding.     The  j^resent  year,  however,  they  did  in  it 
return  to  their  accustomed  retreat,  and  no  individual  was  seen 
in  this  vicinity.     In  all  places  it  appears,  in  fact,  a  scarce  and 
widely  disi)ersed  sjiecies.      Audubon  has  since  observed  tlii- 
bird  in  other  parts   of  Massachusetts,   Maine,  the  Magdakii 
Islands,  and  the  coast  of  Labrador.     He  has  also  seen  it  iii 
(Georgia  and  in  Texas.     This  species  is  a  common  inhabitant 
of    the    dark    fir- woods    of    the    Columbia,    where    it    arri'.^- 
towards  the  close  of  May.     We  again  heard,  at  intervals,  tin. 
same  curious  call,  like  \i^/i-plirl>c\j,  and  sometimes  like  the  gut- 
tural sound  '(x/i-Z/if/'cr,  commencing  with  a  sort  of  suppres-cfl 
chuck ;  at  other  times  the  note  varied  into  a  lively  and  sonit- 
times  quick  ft-dctoway.     This,  no  doubt,  is  the  note  attribuicii 
by  Wilson  to  the  Wood  Pewee.     ^^  hen  approached,  or  \\\x 
calling,  we  heard  the  pii  pu  pi/. 


CRESTED   FLYCATCHER. 


413 


aid  aUowcd 

the  fviv  coun- 
Accordini: 

iritctWy  in  llK 
^  \janks  of  Uu 

:c  pair  a\'V'' 
lipcr  not  m^'ix 
vhc  vrcccdmu 
i^ed  Uicir  Unu 

mod4^^-^'"" 
,cso.  cxcci.V   m 
h  those  of  tht 
dark-\)ioxvn  'an-l 
Iking  unfortu- 
>ndcd  to  leave  n^ 
iors  of  vrcparing 
second  nest  ^v.l~ 
L.   short  distance 
vcr,  they  dicl  ^^"^ 
^dividual  Nvas  seen 
ut,  a  scarce  and 
Kce'  obser%-ed  thi^ 
Le    the  ^lagdalen 
as  also  seen  n  ni 
,mmon  inhabit:'"! 
,  where    it    arrive- 
d.  at  intervals,  Uu 
'irnes  like  the  gut- 
Isort  of  suppres^ec. 
\  lively  and  sovne- 
a,c  note  attril)nte.l 
,roached,  or  Nvi-^'' 


Tile  Olive-sided  Flycatcher  is  a  rare  .sunmicr  icsidciU  in  the 
Miiitheni  portions  of  New  Eiiijlaiul.  hut  is  quite  common  in 
M  line  and  Xew  lirunswick,  and  raiii;es  north  to  about  the  50th 
parallel.     In  the  region  of  the  (ireat  Lakes  it  occurs  but  rarely. 


CRi:sri:i)  I'lAcwrciiiiR. 

Mm AKCIlls    (  klMTUS. 

ClIAK.  Upper  parts  olive,  uicluied  to  bruwii  uii  tlie  head;  lower  juirts 
bright  yellow,  exeepting  lhro;it  and  cheek,  whieh  are  dark  ash  ;  wiiiL^s  and 
nil  dusky,  marked  with  rufous.     Head  crested.     Lciv^tli  S;^  to  9  inches. 

.\\s/.  In  a  cavity  of  a  tree;  of  twigs,  grass-roots,  featlicrs,  and  usually 
;i  cast-uff  snake-skin. 

/sVv'j.  4-6;  light  l)uffv  brown,  marked  with  lines  of  brown  and  purple; 
0  S5  X  0.65. 

This  species,  nearly  unknown  iii  New  [''nuland,  arri'.es  in 
IVnnsyh-ania  early  in  May,  and  builds  his  nest  in  the  deserted 
holes  of  the  Woodpecker  or  lUuebird.  He  also  frccpicnts  the 
on-hard,  anfl  is  eciually  fond  of  bees  with  the  Kingbird.  He 
h;l.^  no  other  note  thin  a  harsh  s(|ueak,  which  sounds  like  Yd//'. 
'/'''A  Al''''</'>  'A'J''^'''/)  ^^'i^l^  a  strong  accent  on  the  fn-st  syl- 
lible.  He  ])reys  actively  on  insects,  which  he  collects  from 
hi-^  stand,  and,  in  .short,  has  most  of  ilie  manners  and  ])hysi- 
OLinomy  of  the  whole  section  or  family  to  which  he  belongs. 
The  note  of  the  male  appears  often  deliveretl  in  anger  and 
inipatience,  and  he  defends  his  retreat  from  the  access  of  all 
iitlicr  birds  with  the  tyrannic  insolence  characteristic  of  the 
Kingbird. 

Towards  the  end  of  stimmer  these  birds  feed  on  berries  of 
vnrious  kinds,  being  particularly  partial  to  pokeberries  and 
wliortleberries,  which  for  a  time  seem  to  constitute  the  jjrin- 
cipd  food  of  the  yoting.  They  remain  in  Pennsylvania  till  about 
the  middle  of  September,  when  they  retire  to  tropical  America. 
In  hily,  1 83 1,  I  observetl  a  pair  in  an  orchard  at  .\cton,  in  this 
^'t.Ue  (Massachusetts).  They  had  reared  a  brood  in  the  \icinity, 
inl  still  appeared  very  stationary  on  the  [)remises  ;  their  harsh 


414 


l-LVCATCllKkS, 


payiip,  iuul  sijinctimcs  a  blender  iwittcrin.Lj,  as  ihcy  took  tlir 
perch,  were  heard  ahiiusl  frum  inoni  to  niyht,  ami  re?.einbled 
at  rir>l  the  chiri)  uf  a  young  Robin.  'I'hey  fed  on  the  calei 
liillars  or  vermin  of  some  khid  wiiich  happened  lu  infest  thi 
ap|ile-trees.  1  was  told  that  they  utter  a  different  and  moir 
musical  note  about  smu'ise  ;  but  of  thi^  1  cannot  speak  from  iii\ 
own  knowledge.  They  are  unknown  in  the  vicinity  of  tin 
sea-coast  of  Massachusetts,  .\ceording  to  Amlubon,  lliey  au 
found  on  the  ujijier  Missouri  during  summer.  Many  abn 
pass  the  winter  in  tlie  warmer  parts  of  Idorida.  They  abn 
breed  in  Texas. 

Tills  species  is  common  in  the  Eastern  States  north  to  Connei  ■ 
ticut  and  northern  Oliio  and  in  southern  Ontario.  It  is  rare  in 
MassacluiMlts.  but  examples  have  been  observed  in  Maine  ami 
New   lirunswick. 

'I'iuise  who  know  tiie  bird  best  say  it  has  the  courage  of  llic 
Kingl>ird,  and  a  knack  of  cjuarrelling  that  is  all  its  own. 


GR.W    KINOr.IRl). 

Tvi-L\XMs  ii().\nN"ici:Nsis. 

CllAK.  Very  similar  tn  the  Kiiigbirtl,  liui  of  jjalcr  color ;  tlic  uppa 
parts,  incluiliiiL;  the  liL-ad,  luing  ashy  gray.  Its  si/u  is  somewhat  larger,  - 
alujiit  an  inch  in  Iciigih. 

.Wst.     Ill  a  tree  ;  compoM^cl  of  twii;>,  lined  with  roots  or  moss. 

E(;f;s,  3-4;  white,  tinged  with  pak-  bniT  or  salmon  pink  and  spotkd 
with  brown  and  purple  ;   i.oo  X  0.75. 

This  fine  tropical  species  was  discovered  by  .Xudubon  oi; 
the  Florida  Keys,  where  it  arrives  about  the  first  of  .\pril,  iiiii 
s])reads  over  the  peninsula  as  f;ir  as  Cape  I'lorida.  It  is  com- 
mon in  Cuba  and  several  other  of  the  \\'est  India  island-. 
Stragglers,  however,  appear  to  wander  at  times  as  far  to  tlu 
north  as  South  Carolina  ;  a  i)air  ami  their  nest  having  beni 
fomid  in  a  college  yard,  where  they  continued  to  return  fur 
several  years  in  succession,  rearing  two  broods  in  a  sea.-on. 
Its  whole  demeanor  so  niutdi  resembles  that  of  the  comim-n 


VlKhbL. 


4«5 


(^■v  took  tlv 

on  lU^  ^'i^^'^' 
to  inlV^i  ill' 

i,cak  from  ni\ 
icinivy  ol  i". 
ibon,  Ui^y  ''H 
r.     Many  al-«' 
uv.    'Hicy  al>u 


,onl.  H)  Conn.. 
Iv  IS  rarf   n; 

,  coura.ue  of  tl'^ 
ils  own. 


Kin^binl  that  but  for  its  superior  size  and  note  it  might  be 
nuNlaken   fur  that  si)ecios. 

These  birds  Ihitter  while  Hying,  and  a<(j»inciimes  during  the 
breeding  season  ihr  pair,  cnjssing  each  other's  path,  rise  in 
spiral  evolutions,  lniidly  Iwitkring  a-s  they  ascend.  Wiun 
niterruptcd,  alanneil  by  pur>uii.  (jt  in  <jiit^t  of  inseci.i,  ihey 
dart  off  with  greai  velocity,  ll  a  large  ij»ir<i,  a^  a  Heron  or 
(row,  or  indeed  any  niirnder,  jms-  near  their  citation,  liiey 
lunnedialely  pursue  it,  an<l  that  often  Uj  jl  considerable  ilis- 
t  ince.  At  tin-  same  time  the\  apjjear  carc3c-»:^  of  the  ap|)roaeh 
.if  man  e.xcepl  wIrd  the  nr>l  \^  invailed.  »hcn  ihey  il\  almut 
111  great  anger,  snapping  their  bills  anil  loudly  chattering  .  but 
when  reliL'\ed  from  lluii  unwelcome  vioUofs,  they  rLliirn  f:> 
their  stantl  with  notes  of  exultaiinn. 

Nuttall,  following  .Audubon,  named  lliis  sjK-ck-*  the  I'ipiry  I"ly- 
( atelier.  It  is  ahundanl  in  tlic  WVst  Iiidi<.-»»  if*d  ir.  qniti:  coninion 
ill  parts  of  Florida,  but  occurs  at  \n<  other  locality  within  tlic  limits 
(if  the  United  States  except  as  an  accidental  «'ancl»,-rer.  K\ami)les 
liave  been  taken  on  Long  island  and  at  Lynn,  :n  ila.ssacliu.setta. 


icr  color  ;  die  u^r^^ 
.omcwbat  laviicv, 

|,t<  or  moss.  ^ 

,n  pink  and  spoiiu. 

by  .\udu\)on  >'r' 

Ifn-st  of  .M'H^'  ^'"'' 
Ivida.     Itiso.nv 
.St   India  islan'^ 
Ls  as  far  to  du 
Incst  having  bec'i 
iK'd  to  return  f>'i 
Dods  in  a  sea^.n. 
of  the  convaoU 


PHCEliF. 

PE\VI:E.     I'KWIT. 
S.\VOi;\IS    l'HihJ:K. 

<'n\K.     L^pper  parts  dull   olive  lirown.  darker  'r   h-.ad .  under  parts 
whitish,  clianiiiiig  to  jiale  yellow  on  l)clly,  and  hTovr/.^h  on  flanks  :  win^s 
and  tail   dusky,   outer  tail   feathers   and   win;.'   Ijar  «f.>;.«h  ;  white   rin" 
ai'iiuul  the  eyes;  hill  and  feet  black.     Head   w'l^   ;'i-.jnspicuou>  crest 
I.tiiuth  6^4  t"  7  inches. 

.\'  .f/.  Attached  to  the  under-side  of  a  brid'.'t.  cr  if*  a  r')ck,  or  the  side 
of  ,1  cave  ;  of  twius,  roots,  and  nios>,  ceinenled  with  nji*^,  lined  with  grass 
and  feathers. 

/■.',;v.f.     4-5:  white,  sometimes  s]5cckkd  with  j'al"?  f/''r,Tm  r  0  So  y  0.35. 

This  familiar  s])ecies  inhabits  the  continent  of  N'onh  Amc'r- 
ica  from  Canada  and  Labrador  to  Texas,  rettirinir  from  the 
Northern  and  Middle  States  at  the  ajij^roach  of  winter.     How 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


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Photographic 

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Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY    14580 

(716)  873-4503 


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FLVCATCHEKS. 


far  they  proceed  to  the  South  at  this  season  is  not  satisfac- 
torily ascertained  ;  a  few,  no  doubt,  winter  in  the  milder  jxirts 
ui  the  Union,  as  Wilson  saw  them  in  February  in  the  swamps 
of  North  and  South  Carolma,  where  they  were  feeding  on 
sniilax  berries,  auvl  occasionally  even  giving  their  well-known 
notes ;  but  in  the  winter  and  early  spring  of  1 830,  while  em- 
ployed in  an  extensive  pedestrian  journey  from  South  Carolina 
to  Florida  and  Alabama,  I  never  heard  or  met  with  an  individ- 
ual of  the  species.  Audubon  found  them  abundant  in  the 
Floridas  in  winter. 

i'hese  faithful  messengers  of  spring  return  to  Pennsylvania  as 
early  as  the  first  week  in  March,  remain  till  October,  ami 
sometimes  neady  to  the  middle  of  November.  In  Massa- 
chusetts they  arrive  about  the  beginning  of  April,  and  at  fwA 
chiefly  freciuent  the  woods. 

Their  favorite  resort  is  near  streams,  ponds,  or  stagnant 
waters,  about  bridges,  caves,  and  barns,  where  they  choose  to 
breed  ;  and.  in  short,  wherever  there  is  a  good  prosi)ect  fur 
obtaining  their  insect  food.  Near  such  places  our  little  hunter 
sits  on  the  roof  of  some  out-building,  on  a  stake  of  the  fence, 
or  a  jirojerting  branch,  railing  out  at  short  interwals  and  in  a 
raj^id  manner  />/ir/>c  />//('/>i;  and  at  times  in  a  more  plaintive 
tone  />/iir-l'b-i'(\  This  quaint  and  querulous  note,  occasionally 
ajijiroaching  to  a  warble,  sometimes  also  sounds  like  pc^K'ait 
pcwait,  and  then  pc-unu-ir,  aiso  piicbe  phc-/>ce-ir,  twice  alter- 
nated ;  the  latter  i)hrase  somewhat  soft  and  twittering.  In  the 
s])ring  this  not  un])leasing  guttural  warble  is  kept  up  for  hours 
together  until  late  in  the  morning,  and  though  not  loud,  may 
be  heard  to  a  considerable  distance.  From  a  roof  I  have 
heard  these  notes  full  half  a  mile  across  the  water  of  a  small 
like  ;  and  this  cheerful,  though  monotonous,  ditty  is  onl}'  in- 
terru])ted  for  a  few  seconds  as  the  performer  darts  and  sweeps 
after  his  retreating  prey  of  flies,  fretpiently  flirting  and  quiver- 
ing his  tail  and  elevating  his  feathery  cap,  while  sharply 
watching  the  motions  of  his  fickle  game. 

In  the  Middle  States  he  begins  to  construct  his  nest  about 
the  latter  end  of  March,  in  Massachusetts  not  before  the  first 


riKEn.K. 


417 


is  not  salisfac- 
,he  milder  parts 
r  in  the  s\vam\>s 
ere  feeding  on 
neir  well-known 
1830,  while  env 

I  South  Carolina 
with  an  individ- 

ibundant  in  the 

)  Pennsylvania  as 
ill  October,  and 
iber.  In  M^^^-^" 
April,  and  at  fir.A 

onds,  or  stagnant 
ixc  they  choose  to 
good  prospect  tor 
es  our  little  hunter 
stake  of  the  fence, 
intervals  and  in  a 

II  a  more  plaintive 
note,  occasionally 

,()unds  like  pcuuut 
/,,.,-..,r,  twice  aller- 
itwittering.  In  ^^''^ 
s  kept  up  for  hours 
3Ugh  not  loud,  may 
lorn  a  roof  I  have 
,e  water  of  a  small 
[is,  ditty  is  only  in- 
;r  darts  and  swcei)s 
flirting  and  qu'.v^'r- 
:ap,   while   sharply 

Iruct  his  nest  about 
Inot  before  the  first 


week  in  April.  The  nest  is  situated  under  a  l)riilge,  in  a  cave, 
the  side  of  a  well  5  or  C  feet  down,  under  a  shed,  or  in  the 
shelter  of  the  low  eaves  of  a  cottage,  and  even  in  an  empty 
kitchen;  sometimes  it  rests  on  a  beam,  tliough  it  is  frecpiently 
ittiched  to  the  side  of  a  piece  of  roofing  timber  in  the  manner 
:){ the  Swallow. 

According  to  the  touching  relation  of  Wilson,  this  humble 
uid  inoffensive  bird  forms  conjugal  attachments  which  prob- 
ably continue  through  life  i  for,  like  the  faithful  llluebinls, 
a  pair  continued  for  several  years  to  fre([uent  and  build  in  a 
niniantic  cave  in  the  forest  which  made  part  of  the  estate  of 
the  venerable  naturalist,  William  liartram.  Here  our  unfortu- 
nate birds  hatl  again  taken  up  their  welcome  lease  for  the 
sinnmer,  again  chanted  forth  their  simple  lay  of  affection,  and 
cheered  my  aged  frientl  with  the  certain  news  of  sj^ring ;  when 
unexpectedly  a  party  of  idle  bovs,  one  fatal  Saturday,  ile- 
slroyed  with  the  gun  the  pat  .U:-.  i'"  thi.->  old  and  peaceful 
s.ttlement ;  and  from  that  time  foi.w.  d  no  other  pair  were 
ever  seen  around  this  once  happy,  now  desolate  spot. 

Their  attachment  to  particular  places  is  indeed  remarkable. 
About  the  middle  of  April,  1S31,  at  the  I'resh  Pond  Hotel,  in 
this  vicinity,  three  different  nests  were  begun  in  the  public 
boat-house,  which  may  be  here  considered  almost  as  a  thorough- 
fare. Only  one  nest,  however,  was  completed  ;  anil  we  could 
mil  help  admiring  the  courage  and  devotedness  with  which 
the  parents  fed  their  young,  and  took  their  alternate  station 
by  the  side  of  the  nest,  imdaunted  in  our  ])resence,  only  now 
md  then  uttering  a  '/s/i//>  when  observed  too  narrowly.  Some 
ruttian  at  length  tore  down  the  nest  and  carried  off  the  brood  ; 
bill  our  Pewit  immediately  commenced  a  new  fabric,  laid  5 
.I'ldiiional  eggs  in  the  same  i)lace  with  the  first,  and,  in  haste 
to  finish  her  habitation,  lined  it  with  the  silvery  shreds  of  a 
Manilla  rope  which  she  discovered  in  the  contiguous  loft 
over  the  boat-house.  For  several  previous  seasons  the  parents 
had  taken  up  their  abode  in  thih-  vicinity,  and  seemed  unwil- 


liiVu'  to  remove  from  the  neighborhood  they  had  once  chosen, 
in  ^;>ite  of  the  most  untoward  circumstances.     In  two  other 

Vnl.    I.  27 


4i8 


FI.VCA'ICIIERS. 


instances  I  have  known  a  pair,  wiicn  the  nest  and  ej,'.us  wxre 
taken  l)y  some  niis(  hievous  l)oys,  commence  ;i  new  nest  in 
the  same  i)lace,  and  laying  a  smaller  number  of  eggs,  raised 
a  second  brood.  In  one  of  those  nests,  under  a  bridge,  thr 
insidious  Cowbird  had  also  dropped  her  parasitic  egg. 

'I'owanls  tlie  time  of  their  departure  for  the  Soutii,  which  i-, 
about  the  middle  of  October,  they  are  silent,  and  previou>il\ 
utter  their  notes  more  seldom,  as  if  mourning  the  decay  of 
Nature,  and  anticipating  the  apjjroaching  famine  which  now 
urges  their  migration.  In  the  Midille  States  they  raise  two 
broods  in  the  season  :  but  in  Massachusetts  the  Pewit  rartlv 
raises  more  than  a  single  brood,  u.nless,  as  in  the  instance  re- 
lated, they  have  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  the  first  hate  li. 
The  young,  dispersed  through  the  woods  in  small  nupibers. 
may  now  and  then  be  heard  to  the  close  of  September  e.\i  r- 
cising  their  feeble  voices  in  a  gnttnnxl  /'/icYu'.  lUit  the  old  birds 
are  almost  wholly  silent,  or  but  little  heard,  as  they  Hit  timidly 
through  the  woods,  when  once  released  from  the  cares  of  rear- 
ing their  infant  brotxl ;  so  that  here  the  I'hiebe's  note  is  almost 
a  concomitant  of  sjiring  and  the  mildest  ojjening  of  summer,  - 
it  is,  indeed,  nuu  h  more  vigorous  in  .\i)ril  and  May  than  ai 
any  succeeding  period. 

Tlic  Phojbe  is  an  uncommon  bird  in  tlic  Maritime  Proviiuis. 
but  more  common  in  the  vicinity  of  Montreal  and  westward  tn 
WcstLTii  Ontario,  and  in  all  the  llastcrn  States.  It  winters  in 
the  (iulf  States  as  well  as  in  Cuba  and  Mexico. 


NoTK.  —  Mr.  G.  8.  Miller,  Jr.,  captured  on  Cape  Cod,  in  Sep- 
teml)er.  1SS9.  an  examjjle  of  S.\v"s  I'lidcr.r.  {Siiyoniis  sava),  the  lir>t 
that  has  been  taken  to  the  eastward  of  the  Great  Plains. 


WOOL)  ri:\vi:E. 


4\^j 


xwX  eg'^s  were 
a  new  ncsl  in 
of  eggs  raistMl 
r  a  brulgo,  ih^ 

u;  egg. 

South,  whuh  1^ 
and  i.rcviou>U 
i<r  t\ie  decay  ^'t 
nine  which  now 
s  ihey  raise  Uv- 
^1^^.   \>cwit  ravelv 
ihe  instance  n- 
e  ihe  first  hat.h. 
n  smaU  ninM\)ci.. 
f  Se\)teniber  ex^i- 
l>,ut  the  oU\  bira. 
.,s  they  Ibt  timullv 
»,  the  cares  of  reav- 
a)e'snoteisa\m.-i 
Lnlng  of  summer,    - 

|i  and  ^v^^y  '^'''''  '' 

.Maritime  i'rovinns 
la  and  vvestvvavcl  to 
Vates.     U  win^^'-^  '" 


L  Cape  Coc\,  in  S  V 
[eat  I'hnns. 


WOOD   ri;\vr-:K. 

CoMOl'LS   VIKI.NS. 

Char.     Upper  pait>  olive  Ihdwii,  chukcr  on  tlic  head;  lowe  ■  parts 

side-  jialc  olivL-,  iMeiuling   a(-io.-»  ihc 
iniis  witli  bars  ol  wliilish.     Ikad  with 


\vliiti>h,  \vitl>  dull  vi-llow   lintic 


breast ;  tail  and  \vi 


ngs  duskv 


inconspiciiuiis  crest.     Lcnytii  6  to  0,'-i  inches. 

AVst.     On  brand)  of  a  tree;    of  twigs  and  grass,  covered  exteriorly 


with  liciiens  antl  lined  with  in 


o>s. 


/'"vs'f-     y-\;  creamy  white   with  spots  uf  brown  and  lilac  wreathed 
,d)ont  the  larger  end;  0.75   X   7.55. 

'I'his  species  has  much  the  apjiearance  of  the  common  I'ewit 
llycatcher,  but  differs  essentially  by  its  note  ami  habits.  'I'he 
\\Oo(l  I'ewee  a])pears  generally  to  winter  s(juth  of  the  I'nited 
Si.ites,  and  scarcely  arrives  in  I'eiinsylvania  or  New  IJigland 
before  the  middle  of  May;  its  migrations,  in  all  probability, 
ixtend  to  Canada.  .According  to  .\udubon,  many  of  tlu'm 
winter  in  the  .southern  extremity  of  the  I'nited  States,  and  Mr. 
lownsend  and  myself  freciuently  saw  them  in  the  dark  forests 
of  the  Oregon.  It  is  a  solitary  species,  fre(|uenting  gloomy 
forests  and  dark  orchards,  where,  watching  on  some  dead  and 
projecting  branch  for  its  insect  prey,  it  swee])s  at  intervals 
amidst  the  shade,  and  the  occasional  snapi)ing  of  its  bill  an- 
nounces tht;  success  of  its  Ibght.  It  then  again  alights  as 
bi-fore,  sometimes  uttering  a  sort  of  gratulatory  low  twitter. 
a( companied  by  a  (juivering  of  the  wings  and  tail  ;  and  in  the 
lapse  of  its  employment,  in  a  feeble,  sighing  tone,  often  cries 
pii-K't-e  or  ft'c-c,  and  sometimes  pe-'ivcc  pnoif/ifrt  or  pncittcc 
I'c-wcc.  This  note  is  continued  often  till  (piite  late  in  the 
cvrning,  at  which  time  many  of  the  insect  brood  and  moths 
arr  abundant.  AFost  t)f  these  birds,  indeed,  a])pear  capable  of 
cullecting  their  food  by  the  feeblest  light,  the  only  season  when 
some  of  their  favorite  prey  ever  stir  abroail.  This  s])ecics  also 
appi-ars  jiarticularly  fond  of  small  wild  bees.  From  June  to 
September,  its  sijlitary  notes  are  heanl  in  the  fieM  rnul  forest  ; 
;irtrr  which  time,  prei)aring  for  its  departure,  and  intently  glean- 
ing food  in  every  situation,  it  sometimes  approaches  the  city, 


420 


FLVCATCIIKR.S. 


often  examines  the  courts  and  gardens,  at  the  same  time  feed- 
ing and  training  its  young  to  the  habits  of  tiieir  subsistence, 
and  about  the  first  wee  1<  in(Jctoberit  retires  south  to  pass  the 
winter. 

The  I'ewee  is  a  very  expert  and  cautious  flycatcher;  and  as 
if  aware  of  the  drowsiness  of  insects  in  the  absence  of  the  sun's 
broad  hght,  he  is  on  the  alert  at  day-dawn  after  his  i)rey.  At 
this  early  period,  and  often  in  the  dusk  of  evening,  for  the  most 
part  of  summer  till  the  middle  of  August,  he  serenades  the 
neighborhood  of  his  mansion  from  3  to  4  or  5  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  with  an  almost  iminterrupted  chanting  ditty,  sweet, 
but  monotonous,  like  /'('•-ay  pay-toce,  pc-ay  pay-u<C(\  then  in  a 
little  higher  and  less  sing-song  tone,  his  usual  and  more  serious 
p('i'-d-7oei\  In  dark  and  damp  mornings  this  curious  warble  is 
sometimes  continued  nearly  to  8  o'clock  ;  and  the  effect  of 
this  tender,  lulling  lay  in  the  gray  dawn,  before  the  awakening 
of  other  birds,  and  their  mingling  chorus,  is  singular  and  pecu- 
liarly pleasing.  It  is  a  gratulatory  feeling  of  unmixed  and 
placid  delight,  concomitant  with  the  mild  reviving  light  of  the 
opening  day  and  the  perfect  joy  of  the  mated  male,  satisfied  in 
every  reasonable  desire,  —  in  short,  a  hymn  of  praise  to  the 
benevolent  Author  and  Supporter  of  existence  ! 

Towards  the  period  of  departure  they  become  wholly  silent : 
and  driven  to  extremity,  they  may  now  be  seen  watching  the 
stagnant  pools  and  ponds,  dii)ping  occasionally  into  the  si  ill 
surtace  after  their  drowsy  and  languid  prey.  Like  the  King- 
bird, this  species  at  times  displays  a  tyrannical  disjiosition  ;  and 
I  have  observed  one  to  chase  a  harmless  Sjiarrow  to  the  grouml 
for  safety,  who  merely  by  inadvertence  happened  to  aj^proach 
the  station  he  had  temporarily  chosen  for  collecting  his  insect 
game. 

The  notes  of  pi'/o-rciiy  pi'/o-'nuiy  ptr-Ti'uy  are  never  uttercil 
by  this  species;  but  on  the  12th  of  February,  1S30,  in  Ala- 
bama, I  heard,  at  that  season,  a  bird  uttering  this  note,  and 
several  times  afterwards  I  saw  a  rather  large  and  dark  I'ly- 
catcher  in  the  pine  woods,  to  which  I  attributed  this  call,  and 
which  must  be  a  distinct  species,  as  its  notes  bear  no  reseiii- 


the  same  time  feed- 
)f  their  si)l)sistenre, 
es  south  to  pass  the 

s  flycatcher;  and  as 
al)sence  ot  the  sun's 
I  after  liis  prey.  At 
ivening,  for  the  most 
t,  he  serenades  the 
or  5  o'clock  in  the 
lanting  ditty,  sweet, 
'  pdy-7>.r<\  then  in  a 
lal  and  more  serious 
lis  curious  warble  is 
;  and  the  effect  of 
'fore  the  awakening 
i  singular  and  pecu- 
ig  of  unmixed  and 
'eviving  light  of  the 
:ed  male,  satisfied  in 
inn  of  praise  to  the 
tence  I 

;come  wholly  silent : 
;  seen  watching  the 
lonally  into  the  still 
ty.  Like  the  Kin^- 
cal  disposition  ;  ami 
arrow  to  the  ground 
ppened  to  approach 
collecting  his  insect 

'1'  are  never  uttered 
■uary,  1830,  in  Ma- 
rring this  note,  ami 
large  and  dark  My- 
ibuted  this  call,  and 
jtes  bear  no  reseiii- 


LEAST  rLVCATCIIEK. 

Wanco  (o  (hose  of  th.  Mood  P .  '*'' 

"';^j™l.  .\„,erica.  "''  '••■"cc-a.  tin.  sca»„  ,„„,,,„„y 

-'nu.'':,::;;,'  ':!<::'^i  ,",■"  T"  ^  ""«''■  '-«>■'.  «i.i,h 

'»anch,  as  to  |„.  ,.J.  „     ,  ""'   "»''  "■™r|,„r;,tc,|     '        ,,"' 
fabric  consists  of  ;,;V;"^  --'""k-i.     Tl,e  ,«,   '  ^    Z 

-^''; ''™"  i.in«  n'^^z:::f"'':  -f-'  ''■•""■^•'i « 

n""»^'»  ^illc,  .n<.is,„,„   ,;;,'"«    '■"■  "■"•  cobwebs  and  ca.- 
">•"  »ub  bb,ish  crus,accou     i,  '  "'""^'">-  "  '»  »"  c„a,,,, 

"°»  "-  n,oss  „,,„„  ,1,0  .a.;"^  ;'.'  '",  ''^'  '-■^■••'l-li-orni 
"'■  »l'--"'l^-r  Krass   stalks      Son,        '      "'  ""''  ""^'-  "«^-a,rc, 

!»-■"',  a"'l  ar.  „f,,„  very  |o„s  ,   °  "''"!"  "■^-  "«'«  thro,,,, 

l-'l'ably  infests  .be  M   |,i"l',"""  '^  ^''^'"^■^  "f  ".■.„..,  „l,id, 

f-?Hart;,:'^;,:;;|'\;;;";;»' .;a';.o.ie  "<"^-  ..f  .Ik.  W,,,,,,  ,,,„, 
-0   co„„„o„  occ,„™t^,^^'  ^.^  ;■'  -V«  ll,„„s„,ck      '  "~" 

SOUtlivni-^I  *„    IT       .  ^^    I'llOUoh    ()|,c  1,.,'  .,.,.1    -. 


IS  a 


southward  to  AI 


•-'■vico  and  Guatema) 


iiicbcc  and  On 


^»»d  the  Ijird 


''"■'t>-    It  wiiite 


rs 


LEAST   FLVCAirHER. 

CHECEC. 

'I"-'' is  one  of  our  n,os,         '  '"' ' ''■'^?  X  "-So. 

>---^  I^ngland,  arrij^'frr:;:";'";""'^  '"'"^  '»  '"■»  I-. 
M'ril,  and  leaving  ,„  ^„ '  °  '  """  ■^"""'  abo„,  ,|,,  ,„^,    '    " 
;;-.'  '<>e  l^eglnnln/:;     ,  :-^P-  "Hv  '"  '-pieal  ..„:;:, 


111 


4-2 


ii.vcAr(  iiF.ks. 


Territory,  and  ^cfiiis  most  abtiivlaiit  in  the  Northern  and 
Ilaslern  States.  I'hoiigli,  hke  the  iireceiling,  these  are  solitary, 
retiring  l)ir(l.s,  and  fond  of  the  shade  of  the  forest,  yet  in  this 
vicinity  their  nests  are  nunierouH.  On  their  first  arrival,  pre- 
vious to  pairing,  they  are  engaged  in  constant  ([uarrels  al)out 
their  mates,  and  often  molest  other  birds  whom  they  happen  to 
see  employed  in  pnrsnit  of  the  same  kind  of  food  with  them- 
selves. Like  the  preceding  spe<  ies,  they  take  their  station  on 
a  l«jw  branch  to  reconnoitre  the  passing  insects  on  which  they 
feed,  and  from  time  to  time  make  a  circular  sweep  for  their 
prey.  When  seated,  they  utter  very  frequently  a  sharp,  un- 
pleasant s(|ueak,  somewhat  resembling  that  of  the  Kingbird, 
sounding  like  i/iira/i,  and  sometimes  'tslCah,  or  tshciih,  tsluah, 
and  fs/ici'r,  with  a  guttural,  snapjjing  sound,  succeeded  by  a 
kind  of  ipierulous,  low  twitter  uttered  as  they  fly  from  tree  to 
tree,  and  chiefly  at  the  instant  of  alighting.  At  other  times 
they  have  a  recognizing,  rather  low  call  of  '7C'hit,  Vi'/t/V,  re- 
peated at  short  intervals  ;  again,  in  the  warmest  weather,  1 
have  heard  one  of  these  I'ewees  <'all  something  like  the  whist- 
ling of  Vivv/,  ',\vv7,  '7.VV'/,  '71'///.  Occasionally,  when  fighting 
or  in  living,  it  also  makes  an  echoing  tshin:  It  posscsscj  all 
the  habits  of  the  Kingbird,  catches  bees,  flies,  and  moths,  ex- 
hibits a  variety  of  (juivering  motions,  and  defends  its  nest  with 
great  courage  against  the  a])proach  of  larger  birds. 

The  nest  of  the  Small  I'ewee  is  usually  fixed  in  the  slender, 
upright  forks  of  a  yoimg  forest  tree  from  6  to  20  or  30  feet 
fn^m  the  ground.  I  have  also  found  the  nests  on  the  horizon- 
tal branch  of  an  apple-tree  or  forest  tree.  In  most  instances 
in  the  woods  a  gloomy,  solitary  situation  is  chosen.  The  mate- 
rials of  this  fd)ric  vary  according  to  circtunstances  ;  for  the 
first  brood  a  very  soft  and  warm  nest  is  usually  made  of  dry 
grass,  willow,  and  cud-weed  down  in  large  quantities,  jiartly 
felted  or  matted  together  externally  with  the  saliva  of  the 
bird.  Common  tow,  if  convenient,  is  also  occasionally  em- 
ployed when  the  nest  is  in  an  apple-tree,  for  which  some  neigh- 
boring graft  is  i)robably  unravelled.  The  interior  is  usually 
formed  of  slentler,  narnjw  strips  of  bark,  bass,  and  dry  gras^: 


LEAST    ILVCATCIUCK. 


4^3 


Northern   ar<l 
icsc  arc  solitary, 
_,rcsi,  yd  in  this 
first  arrival,  i^rc- 
t  (luarrcls  abmU 
rt  they  havpcn  to 

food  with  thcm- 
,e  their  station  on 
cts  on  which  they 
ar  sweep  for  their 
ntly  a  sharp,  vnv 

of  the  Kingbird, 
,  or  /shca/i,  tshaMi, 
d,  succeeded  by  a 

ley  fly  fr"'"  ^"^^'^  ^'^ 
g.     At  other  times 

)f  'whit,  'whit,  re- 
varmest  weather,   1 
hing  like  the  wh.st- 
iially,  when  fightui- 
rr.     It  possesses  all 
[bos,  and  moths,  ex 
Idends  its  nest  with 
r  birds. 

fixed  in  the  slender, 
6  to  20  or  30  feet 
losts  on  the  horizon- 
In  most  instances 
chosen.   The  matc- 
mmstanccs  ;   for  the 
usually  made  of  dry 
ge  (luantities,  partly 
^,  the  saliva  of  the 
hso  occasionally  eui- 
pr  which  some  neiiih- 
[e  interior  is   usually 
bass,  and  dry  gra.^ ; 


the  lining  is  commonly  of  fine  root-fibres,  slender  tops  of  bent 
grass,  and  at  times  a  few  hairs  and  feathers.  Occasionally  the 
princiital  external  material  consists  of  strips  or  strings  of  silk- 
weed  lint  an<l  tlie  bark  of  the  coininon  \  irgin's  bower.  'I'he 
nest  is  extreiiuly  neat  and  uniform,  resembling  a  (H)niplete 
hemisi^here.  As  nests  may  be  foimd  late  in  July,  it  is 
l)robable  they  have  a  second  brood  in  the  course  of  the 
■reason.  They  are  extremely  attached  \.o  their  offspring,  and 
keep  up  an  incessant,  almost  choking  tshdih  fs/itui/i  when 
any  person  ap|)roaches  the  tree  where  they  have  their 
bn.od.  The  young  and  old  now  move  about  in  company, 
and  at  this  time  feed  on  various  kinds  of  berries,  partic- 
ularly those  of  the  cornel  and  whortleberry.  At  length  the 
young  are  seen  to  select  each  (other's  society,  and  rove  about 
without  any  fixed  resort,  previous  to  their  gradual  departure. 
A  pair,  probably  of  the  same  brood,  still  lingered  here  in  Sep- 
tember, and  like  the  little  I'arrots  called  Inseparalile,  appeared 
fondly  to  cherish  each  other's  romi)any.  It  was  toward  even- 
ing when  I  saw  them,  and  at  first  they  appeared  inclined  to 
roost  in  the  shady  willow-tree  in  which  they  had  alighted.  They 
nestled  close  to  er^ch  other  with  looks  and  nc/tes  of  tenderness 
and  affection  ;  wherever  one  went,  the  other  instantly  followed, 
md  the  same  branch  contained  the  same  contented  pair. 

Xuttall  followofl  Wilson  in  the  mistake  of  supposintj  this  species 
and  (itiufuHs  to  be  identical,  and  in  his  account  lias  minuled  the 
I)io<;raphies  of  the  two.  The  latter  is  more  southern  in  its  distri- 
Imtion.  "Chchcc"is  a  common  summer  resident  from  southern 
\ew  England  to  the  (ailf  of  St.  Lawrence,  and  westward  to  the 
prairies.     It  winters  south  to  Panama. 


'I  k.\i  ij,'s    KLvcA'i"c:n  i:r. 

J^MriltnN.W    I'lMl.lAS    IRMI.I.II. 

CliAR.  Upper  i)aits  olive  brown,  darker  on  tlie  liead,  liglitcr  on  the 
rum|i ;  under  pans  wliilish,  tlic  nicies  tinned  willi  pale  olive,  wliidi  ex- 
teiuK  nearly  across  tlie  breast,  tiie  l)elly  tinged  witli  yellow;  wings  dusky, 
witli  yellowisli  white  bars.     I,ent;th  5'j  to  6  inches. 

i\'i.7.  On  an  ni)rii;ht  fork  in  a  clunij)  of  alders  or  low  deciduous  tree, 
I  to  S  feet  from  the  ground;  compo-etl  of  grass  ro(jts  or  iiemiien  fd)re, 
lined  usually  witli  fine  grass,  sonietinies  with  iiorse-liair  or  thistle-down. 

/i\v-f  3-1 ;  creamy  while  or  Ixiff,  boldly  spotted  with  light  and  dark 
brown  ciiicfly  about  the  larger  end  ;  0.70  X  0.5J. 

'I'liis  species,  so  nearly  allied  to  the  last,  was  first  distin- 
guished by  Aiidnbon.  Its  note  resembles  the  syllable  '7>.'/ut/. 
^wheci.  articulated  clearly  while  in  the  act  of  tlying.  It  was 
first  observed  on  the  wooded  skirts  of  the  i)rairies  along  the 
banks  of  the  .\rkansas.  Mr.  'I'ownsend  and  myself  observed  it 
in  vari<>ii>  jilai  es  in  the  skirts  of  the  forests  of  the  Cohimbi.i 
and  W'ahlamet  during  the  stnnmer,  when  it  was  breeding,  but 
we  <()tild  not  discover  the  nest.  Its  motions  are  thus  de- 
scribed b\  .Xiidiibon  :  "When  leaving  the  top  branches  of  a 
low  tree  tliis  bird  takes  long  llights,  skimming  in  zig-zag  line>, 
])assing  close  over  the  tops  of  the  tall  grasses,  snajijiing  at  ami 
seizing  different  sjiecies  of  wingetl  insects,  and  returning  to  tin 
same  trees  to  alight." 

'I'miU's  Flycatcher  is  chiefly  a  spring  and  autumn  migrant 
throiiiili  suutlicrn  New  England,  though  a  few  pairs  breed  as  far 


A(  A  1)1  AN    MAcATClItK. 


4J5 


i:  R. 

I. 
l.cad,  litiUtLi-  on  the 
,,;ik  clivcwluchcx- 
vcllnw;  wings  ilusky, 

„   low  ckriduons  tree, 

,„,s  (.<   hcml'^'^  ''^"^'•'• 
iluiiv  or  thisllcV.own. 
d  with  light  and  dark 

It,  was  first  tlistin- 
llhc  svlla\)lc  '-u'lurL 
of  dyin:^.     U  wa^ 

prairies  along  ihr 

mvsclf  o\)Scrvc<l  ii 
s  of  the  CoUimbia 

was  \)rcc(ling,  b'l^ 
Itions  arc  ibus  tU- 

lop  liranches  of  a 
ling  in  zig-zag  linf>, 
L's.  snapping  at  and 

nd  returning  to  tin 

L   autumn    migrant 
[w  pairs  breed  as  far 


Miulli  a>>  Long  Island.     It  is  a  conuuDM  siiniintT  ri'sident  nf  Maine 
and  of  the  northern  part  of  Wrinoni  and   New  llanijjsliire.     It  is 


(onimon  r 


also  in   New    iirunswick.     West  ol  this  reyion  it  breeds 


fartlier  to  the  soiitiiward.  hein.i;  eoininon  in  tiie  middle  of  Ohio  and 


in  sontliern 


111 


nuns 


and   Missouri.      Mr.   .Mellwrailli  consiilers  it 


unconunon  in  Ont.irio. 
Tiieri'  has  been  consitlerable  discussion  over  the  breeding  habits 


)f  th 


IS   S|H'( 


ies,  caused  bv  the  dil'l'erencc   in   habits  of  the  Western 


Mrds  from  those  win<  h  i)reeil  near  tlie  Atlantic.     Here  the  favorite 
>itc  is  a  clump  of  alders  near  a  runninji  stream,  and  the  nest  is 


aced  within  a  tool  or  two  of   tiie  mound 


diil'j   in   the  West  a 


small  tree  is  generally  selected.  sometimes  an  oak,  —  and  llie  nest 
i>  placed  as  hii;li  as  ten  feet.  The  iiesl.  in  tlie  West,  is  not  .so  com- 
pac  tly  or  neatly  made,  and  the  materials  are  (oarser.  Tiie  note  ot 
this  bird  —  for  wiiile  tlie  fivcatchers  are  not  classed  with  the 
(>w7>/<.'.f,  or  .Sinning- 1 >ird.s,  the V  add  not  a  little  to  our  forest  melo- 
dies —  is  peculiar,  though  strictly  of  the  family  type.  It  sounds 
sometlung  like  kr-z^'i'ii/i'  dLJivered  witli  a  rising  intlection  and  tiie 
iiccent  on  the  tinai  sound,  wh'a  h   is  prolonged.  —  (luite  a  dit'lereiit 


no 


te  from  the  al)rni)t  ilicbi\    of  iitiniimis.      I  have 


never  lieanl 


tl 


le 


Miiii;  uttered  on  the  wing;  but  when  the  l)ird  is  ])erchin.i;.  the 
liead  is  tossed  back  and  the  note  is  Jlitih^  out  with  a  decided 
emphasis  of  manner  as  well  as  of  voice. 


ACADIAN    FIA'C.VIX'HER. 

K.MIMIKIXAX    AtAlUCfS. 

<  MAR.  Tppcr  i^arts  dlivc,  slii;litiy  darker  on  crown;  under  parts 
wliiiish,  the  sides  tinged  witii  p.ile  olive,  which  reaches  almost  arro->  tliL 
linasi ;  l>elly  tinged  with  |)ale  yellow;  wings  and  tail  diiskv  ;  wing-h.iis 
I'liity.     Length  5'^  to  6  inches. 

.\'< -A  In  a  tree,  suspended  on  foik  of  twigs  at  the  extremity  of  a  l^w 
iiiiib:  rather  loosely  made  of  moss  or  gr.isscs  and  shreds  of  bark  liound 
with  spider's  wcl)l)ing. 

l'.:^sS.  2-4;  liiilY  or  creamy  white,  spotted,  iliiclly  about  the  larger  end, 
with  reddish  brown  ;  0.75  X  055 

The  older  writers  h;ul  rather  contused  ideas  regarding-  these 
sm.ill  Flvcatchers.  and  Nuttall  supjiosvd  he  was  writing  of  the 
piv.sent  species,  when  the  bird  lie  h;id  in  mind  u.is  iiiini)iins. 

'I'he  Ac;idian  f'lycatclier  belongs  to  the  .Middle  .States  rather 
than  to  New   England,   anil  has  ne\Lr  Iteeii   taken   north   of  the 


426 


flvcatciii;rs. 


Connecticut  valley.     It  is  abundant  in  Ohio  and  Illinois,  but  has 
not  been  observed  in  Ontario. 

I  have  net  met  with  this  species  in  the  field,  but  those  who  have 
been  so  fortunate  descrilje  it  as  a  shy  l)ird,  .seekin;;  the  low,  moist 
thicket  and  shaded  groves  rather  tlian  tiie  open  pastures,  i^r. 
Coues  tliinks  tiie  nest  "may  be  compared  to  a  light  luunmock 
swung  between  forks.''  It  is  shallow  anil  saucer-shaped,  and  so 
loosely  made  that  the  eggs  may  be  seen  from  below.  Dr.  Wheatou 
states  that  so  much  loose  grass  is  left  on  the  outside  of  the  nest 
"that  it  looks  like  a  tuft  of  hay  cauglu  by  the  limb  from  a  load 
driven  under  it." 


ykllo\v-hi:lmhi)  klycatchhr. 

K.MI'IIH  )N.\X    FI-AVIVKN  I  klS. 

CllAR.  U])i>er  parts  dull  olive,  d.iiker  on  the  crown  ;  undci  parts 
hriglu  yellow,  sh.iclcd  with  olive  on  die  breast ;  wing-bars  pale  yellow  ;  ;i 
yellow  ring  around  llic  eye.     Length  5!i  to  6  inches. 

yW.iA  Amid  moss-covered  roots  of  upturned  tree  or  mossy  log;  of 
twi^s,  or  vegetable  fibre,  or  moss,  lined  with  roots,  or  fine  grass,  <<r 
moss. 

/v;';'-,f.  1  ;  palc  buff,  sparingly  spotted,  mostly  about  larger  end,  with 
reddish  brown;  0.70  X  0.50. 

This  .species  was  discovered  about  tS43.  and  for  many  years  —  is 
late  as  i.SSo  —  was  considered  a  rare  bird.  I'.ven  now  compar- 
atively few  prisons  are  familiar  with  it,  though  it  occurs  throu;;li- 
out  this  I'^astern  Province.  It  is  common  in  Xew  Englainl. 
breeding  in  the  northern  |)ortion.  and  occurs  on  the  higher  hills 
cl.«v.where.  i  found  it  abundant  in  Xew  Hrunswick,  and  it  his 
been  traced  northward  to  the  lower  Mudson  IJay  region.  Macotin 
re|)orts  it  common  at  Lake  Mistissini. 

Dr.  Wheaton  considered  it  a  common  migrant  through  Ohio,  but 
observers  in  Ontario  have  met  with  it  so  s'  Ulom  as  to  think  it  rare. 
It  is  common  in  Illinois  and  in  portions  of  .Manitoba. 

The  notes  of  this  species  have  caused  much  discussion,  —  soiiu 
writers  claiming  for  it  an  individuality,  antl  others  insisting  that  i; 
utters  nothing  different  from  the  notes  of  traillii ok  ininiiinis.  '!  in 
kil-lic  o{  Jlimvt-iitri's  sceins,  to  my  ear.  (piite  different  from  the 
kc-7ci>ik  of  Traill's,  -  which  is  rather  sibilant,  and  is  deliveied 
with  a  rising  inflection,  —  as  also  from  the  clu'-l>cc  of  the  Liist 
Flycatcher.     While  the  latter  delivers  his  two  notes  in  rapid  sl,u- 


m:i.i.()\v-i;i:i.i.ii:i)  ilvcariiku. 


4-V 


Illinois,  but  has 

It  Ihosc  who  h.vvi; 
in^  the  low.  nii.i^t 
;n  pastures.     l>'- 
;i  lii;lit  hammiick 
cr-siiapc(l,  and  so 
ow.    Dr.  Whcaton 
outside  of  the  nest 
J  limb  from  a  load 


CHKR. 


(•<//(>,  and  m.ikfs  more  or  less  pause  after  each  couplet,  the  Vellow- 
hellied  whistles  four  notes,  kil-lii  Ici/iii,  uitli  but  a  short  pausr 
a  mere  rest  —  between  each  p.iir,  and  delivers  the   notes  with  a 
tritie  Ics.s  abruptness. 

()tlier  notes  of  the  present  species  resf'iible /<(/ and /<*-Ti'<'-i'((? 
riirse  are  heard  when  .i  p.iir  .ire  in  (lose  companionship.  'I'luy 
are  soft,  sweet,  coom^^-notes,  delivered  in  a  plaintive  tone  that 
sug;^ests  the  tender  pathos  of  the  I'ewec'.s. 

Xori:.  —  The  FouK-rAii.i.i)  Fi.yc.\t(  iii:k  (.J//7T'/////.f  /ym/tniis), 
a  bird  of  Cen'ml  and  South  America,  has  occasionally  wandered 
north,  and  been  taken  in  .Mississi|)pi,  Kentuc':y,  and  New  Jersey. 

.Also  a  few  examples  of  the  S(  iss( 'K-r  Aii.r.D  l'i.V(  A  r(  iii;k 
yMil-,<iilusforJii(it:ts),  which  rarely  appears  north  or  east  of  Texas, 
have  been  scon  in  N'irifinia.  New  Jersey.  Connecticut.  Ontario,  and 
.Manitoba,  and  one  wandered  to  liie  siiores  of  Hudson  liay. 


,  ^,own;    under  parts 
,nj;-bars  pale  yellow  ;  i 


tree  or  mossy  log ;  '^' 
„„ts  or  fine  grass,  n, 

about  larger  end,  with 


for  manv  years  —  .>s 
l.-.ven  now  compar- 

,h  it  occurs  through- 
I,;  in  New  Englana. 
Is  on  the  higher  In. Is 

runswick,  and   it  h '^ 

'  .;,y  region.     Macoun 

Lt  through  Ohio,  but 

lorn  as  to  think  it  rare 

lanitoba. 

Th  discussion,  -  sonu 
ktbors  insisting  that  it 
\lliiox  iiihiiiiius.  I  '^ 
Lc  different  from  the 
Lit,  and  is  delivevccl 
1  chc-hcc  of  the  Least 
Ivo  notes  in  rapid  st^c- 


CAROLINA    I'AR()(,)IF/I'. 

CAROLINA    PARROT.     PARAKEET. 
CoNlKlS    CAk(  H.IM'NSIS. 

CiiAR.     Head  aiul  neck  yellow;  foixlicacl  and  sides  of  head  oian 
red  ;  body  and  tail  ;j,rccn,  the  Ixlly  tinged  with  yellow;  wings  green  a 
yellow,  the  edges  tinged  with  orange  red.     In  innnature  specimens  tl 
yellow  of  head  and  neck  is  rei^laced  by  green.     Length  about  13  inche-f 

y\'('.f/.  In  dense  woods  or  cypress  swamp  :  placed  on  a  fork  near  il 
end  of  a  branch  or  in  a  hole  in  a  tree.  ^Vhcn  on  a  branch  it  is  niadef 
cyiuess  twigs  loosely  woven,  and  a  itest  in  a  hole  is  nsually  lined  \\l 
cypress  twigs.   When  abinulant  the  birds  generally  liuild  in  large  colon! 

/i'X^'-.f.     2-5  (?)  ;  greenish  white  or  creamy;   1..10  X  1.05. 

Of  more  than   200  species  now  known  to  lielong  to  tj 
remmkahle  and  brilliant  Ljentis,  the  present  is  the  only 
found  i!thal)iting  the  I'nited  States  ;  it  is  also  restricted  to 
warmer  parts,  rarely  venturing  beyond  the  State  of  Virgiil 
West  of  the  Alleghanics.  however,  circumstances  induce  th| 
binls  commonly  to  visit  niuch  higher  latitudes  ;    so  that, 


CAROLINA   rARO()UET. 


429 


•  1      r^f  head  orange 
li   n,u\  sides  ot   ntciu  . 

^' Vimmature  specu.cn>   iK 

'Vu..thabout.3'<H^'^  , 

.\  branch  it  >^"^^^^^",' 
,^"  7\     ^^usuallv  lined  Nvu. 

UrUidinUrgecio.. 

•  1.40  X  '•OS- 

:„,„,  ,«  belong  to  il.j^ 

present  is  the  only  om 
is  .ISO  restricted  to  ,1. 

,  ,,e  State  of  V.rg.ma 
Lc«mst.nees  in.lt.ce  the-. 
L  latittKles  ;    so  that,  fol 


lowing  the  great  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  they  are  seen  to 
fretiuent  the  banks  of  the  Illinois,  and  occasionally  to  approach 
the  southern  shores  of  Lake  Michigan.  Straggling  [)ailics 
even  have  sometimes  been  seen  in  the  vallcv  of  the  Juniata  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  a  flock,  to  the  great  surprise  of  the  I  )uich 
inhabitants  of  Albany,  are  said  to  have  apjjeared  in  that  vicin- 
ity. They  constantly  inhabit  and  breed  in  the  Southern  States. 
and  are  so  far  hardy  as  to  make  their  appearance,  commonly 
in  the  depth  of  winter,  along  the  woody  banks  of  the  ( )hi(), 
the  interior  of  Alabama,  the  banks  tjf  the  Mississippi  and 
Missouri  around  St.  Louis,  and  other  places,  when  nearly  all 
other  binls  have  migrated  bef<jre  the  storms  of  the  season. 

'I'he  Carolina  I'arrakeets  in  all  their  movements,  which  are 
uniformly  gregarious,  show  a  peculiar  predilection  for  the  allu- 
vial, rich,  and  dark  f  )rests  bordering  the  principal  rivers  and 
larger  streams,  in  wliich  the  towering  cyjiress  and  gigantic 
sycamore  spread  their  vast  summits,  or  stretch  their  innumer- 
able arms  over  a  wide  waste  of  moving  or  stagnant  waters, 
l-'rom  these,  the  beech,  and  the  hack-berry,  they  derive  an 
important  supply  of  food.  The  flocks,  moving  in  the  manner 
of  wild  Pigeons,  dart  in  swift  and  airy  phalanx  through  the 
green  boughs  of  the  forest  ;  screaming  in  a  general  cont:erl,  they 
wheel  in  wide  and  descending  circles  round  the  tall  button- 
wood,  and  all  alight  at  the  same  instant,  their  green  vesture, 
like  the  foiry  mantle,  rendering  them  nearly  invisible  beneath 
the  shady  branches,  where  they  sit  ])erhaps  arranging  tlieir 
plumage  and  shuffling  side  by  side,  seeming  to  caress  and 
-cratch  each  other's  heads  with  all  the  fondness  and  unvarying 
friendship  of  affectionate  Doves.  If  the  gun  thin  their  ranks 
ihey  hover  over  the  screaming,  wounded,  or  dying,  and  return- 
ing and  flyi'.g  around  the  i)lace  where  they  miss  their  compan- 
ions, in  their  sympathy  seem  to  lose  all  idea  of  impending 
ilanger.  When  more  fortunate  in  their  excursions,  they  next 
jiroceed  to  gratify  the  calls  of  hunger,  ami  desceiid  to  the 
banks  of  the  river  or  the  neighboring  fields  in  (juest  of  the 
inviting  kernels  of  the  cockle-btuT,  and  probably  of  the  bitter- 
need,  which  they  extract  from  their  husks  with  great  dexterity. 


430 


I'ARROTS. 


In  the  depth  of  winter,  when  other  resources  begin  to  foil, 
they,  in  eomnion  with  the  Yellow  Diril  and  some  other 
Finches,  assemble  among  the  tall  sycamores,  and  hangiiiL'^ 
from  the  extreme  twigs  in  the  most  airy  and  graceful  ixjstures. 
scatter  around  them  a  cloud  of  down  from  the  pendant  balls 
in  <iuest  of  the  seeds,  which  now  afford  them  an  am])le  re])ast. 
\\ith  that  peculiar  cajirice,  or  jjcrhaps  apjjetite,  which  char- 
acterizes them,  they  are  als(j  observed  to  fre(|uent  the  salinr 
springs  or  /icks  to  gratify  their  uncommon  taste  for  salt.  Out 
of  mere  wantonness  they  often  freiiuent  the  orchards,  and 
appear  delighted  with  the  fruitless  frolic  of  plucking  aj^jples 
from  the  trees  and  strewing  them  on  the  ground  untasted. 
So  common  is  this  practice  among  them  in  Arkansas  Territory 
that  no  ai)i)les  are  ever  suffered  to  ripen.  They  are  also  fond 
of  some  sorts  of  berries,  and  ])articularly  of  mulberries,  which 
they  eat  piecemeal  in  their  usual  manner  as  they  hold  them  by 
the  foot.  According  to  Audubon,  they  likewise  attack  the 
oiUstanding  stacks  of  grain  in  Hocks,  committing  great  waste  ; 
and  on  these  occasions,  as  well  as  the  former,  they  are  so 
bold  or  incaiuious  as  readily  to  become  the  ])rey  of  the  sports- 
man in  great  numbers.  Peculiarity  of  food  appears  wholly  to 
influence  the  visits  and  residence  of  this  bird,  and  in  jjlain, 
champaign,  or  mountainous  countries  they  are  wholly  stranger^, 
though  common  along  the  banks  of  all  the  intennediati. 
watercourses  and  lagoons. 

Of  their  manners  at  the  interesting  period  of  propagation 
and  incubation  we  are  not  yet  satisfictorily  informetl.     TluvF 
nest  in  hollow  trees  and  take  little  if  any  pains  to  ])rovidt  monl 
than  a  simple  hollow  in  which  to  lay  their  eggs,  like  the  Wooi 
peckers.     They  are  at  all  times   ])articularly  attached  to  tliJ 
large  sycamores,  in  the  hollow  trunks  of  which  they  roost  in| 
close  community,  and  enter  at  the  same  aperture  into  whi( 
they  climb.     They  are  said  to  cling  close  to  the  sides  of  ihij 
tree,  holding  fast  by  the  claws  and  bill ;  and  into  these  hollow:i 
they  often  retire  during  the  day,  either  in  very  warm  or  indc 
ment  weather,  to  sleep  or  pass  away  the  time  in  indolent  aiij 
social   securit)',  like  the  Ritpii-o/as  of  the   Peruvian  caves,  aj 


CAROLINA   rAKO(»LET. 


431 


:es  begin  to  fail, 

and   some    other 
,rcs,  and  banguv.' 

trraccful  posture.. 

ihe  pendant  \)a\\s 
n  an  ample  repast. 
>cute,  wbicb  cbar- 
frcquent  the  salnu- 
taste  for  salt.     Out 

the  orchards,    and 

^,f  pUu-king  apple-> 
,e   ^rovnid  untasted. 
,,  Arkansas  Territory 
Thev  are  also  fowl 

of  mulberries,  which 
,s  they  hold  them  by 
.  likewise   attack  the 
emitting  great  waste  ; 
.   former,  they  are  s<. 
he  prey  of  the  sporls- 
ood  appears  wholly  u. 

ns  bird,  ami  in  pkm^. 

y  are  wholly  stranger>. 
all   the    imermediaic 

period  of  propagation 
orily  informed.  lhe> 
■, ins  to  provide  more 

.        ^.  i;V'i'  the  Wooil 
ir  eggs,  like  uie 

,,l,rly  attached  to  tU 

of  which  they  roost  >n 

m-  apertnre  into  whu  h 

lose  to  the  sides  of  tlu 

and  into  these  hollow> 

i,,  very  warm  or  mc  lo- 

Ae  time  in  indolem  an. 

Ilhe  Peruvian  caves,  'A\ 


length  only  hastily  aroused  to  forage  at  the  calls  of  hunger. 
Indeed,  from  the  swiftness  and  celerity  of  their  aerial  move- 
ments, darting  through  the  gleaming  sunshine  like  so  ukuv 
sylvan  cherubs  decked  in  green  and  gol<l,  it  is  obvious  that 
iheir  actions  as  well  as  tlieir  manners  are  not  calculated  for 
any  long  endurance  ;  and  shy  and  retiring  from  all  society  but 
that  to  which  they  are  inseparably  wedded,  they  rove  abroad 
with  incessant  activity  until  their  wants  are  gratified,  when,  hid 
from  siglit,  they  again  relai)se  into  that  indolence  which  seems 
a  relief  to  their  exertions. 

The  Carolina  Parrot  is  readily  tamed,  and  early  shows  an 
attachment  to  those  around  who  bestow  any  attention  on  its 
wants  ;  it  soon  learns  to  recollect  its  name  and  to  answer  and 
< ome  when  called  on.  It  does  not,  however,  evince  much,  if 
any,  capacity  for  mimicking  human  si)eech  or  sounds  of  any 
kind,  and  as  a  domestic  is  very  peaceable  and  rather  taciturn. 
It  is  extremely  fond  of  nuts  and  almonds,  and  may  be  sup- 
ported on  the  vegetable  food  usually  given  to  other  species. 
One  which  I  saw  at  Tuscaloosa,  a  week  after  being  disabled  in 
the  wing,  seemed  perfectly  reconciled  to  its  domestic  comli- 
tion ;  anil  as  the  weather  was  rather  cold,  it  remaine<l  the 
ureater  jxart  of  the  time  in  the  house,  climbing  up  the  sides  of 
tiie  wire  fender  to  enjoy  the  warmth  of  the  fire.  I  was  in- 
formed that  when  first  caught  it  scaled  the  side  of  the  room 
at  night,  and  rocsted  in  a  hanging  posture  by  the  bill  and 
(1  iws ;  but  finding  the  labor  difficult  and  fruitless,  having  no 
(onipanion  near  which  to  nestle,  it  soon  submitted  to  pass  the 
ni^jht  on  the  back  of  a  chair. 

I  fear  that  the  story  of  this  <,nirgeous!y  apparalled  bird  is  nearly 
tinished.  It  is  not  quite  exteniiinatccl  yet.  Init  of  tlic  large  Hocks 
that  were  once  to  be  seen  all  over  tlie  Southern  States,  only  a  mere 
ivmnant  can  be  found,  and  tliese  are  lii<ld(.n  amid  tlie  dense 
sw.imps  of  central  Florida  and  alonsj;  the  lower  valley  of  the  .Mis- 
M>-ii)pi.  The  farmers  and  fruit-growers  were  obliged  lo  kill  large 
iiunihers,  and  later  woman's  \anity  and  man's  greed  have  joined 
liaiuls  to  carry  on  the  slaughter.  From  tlie  comhined  attack  of 
sui  h  foes  the  remnant  has  but  slight  chance  itn-  escape. 


\  K LL0\V-13I LLF: D   CUC K0( ). 

RAIN    CROW. 
CuCC VZUS   AM  KRICA  N  US. 

Char.  Uiijier  maiulihlL'  nnd  tij)  of  lower,  black;  rest  of  lower  mandi- 
ble and  ciittinj;  lcji^cs  nf  npptr,  yellow.  Upper  parts  olive,  with  a  slight 
metallic  gli)>s,  linked  with  asii  toward  the  bill  ;  wings  tinged  with  rut'ous; 
middle  feathers  <<(  tail  like  back,  remainder  black  tipped  with  white; 
beneath,  white  or  creamy.     Length  about  i::  inches. 

A'lSt.     In   a  thicket   by  the  side  of  a  stream  or  on  the  border  of  a 
swamp  ;  placed  in  a  bii>h  or  low  tree.     A  flat,  frail  affair  made  of  twij. 
loosely  laid,  sometimes  lined  with  bark  strijis  or  grass. 

/;';.;'.*"•     --6  (usually  4)  ;  pale  dull  green  or  bluish  green;  1.21;  X  o.jo. 

The  American  Cuckoo  arrives  in  the  middle  and  coldc 
States  of  the  Union  about  the  close  of  April  or  the  first  wee 
of  May,  and  proceeds  to  the  north  as  far  as  Nova  Scoti. 
It  probably  winters  in  Nfexico,  and  individuals  pass  no  farth 
than  the  forests  of  Louisiana.  We  also  met  with  it  in  tli 
remote  Territory  of  Oregon.  Latham  speaks  of  these  bin 
also  as  inhabitants  of  the  tropical  island  of  Jamaica.  Th 
delight  in  the  shady  retirement  of  the  forest,  and  are  eqiiall 
common  in  tall  thickets  and  orchards,  where,  like  i)irati(;; 
prowlers,  they  skulk  and  hide  among  the  thickest  boughs  ;  an( 
although,  tnilike  the  Kuropean  Cuckoo,  they  are  faithfully  pairi( 
"et  the  pair  are  seldom  seen  in  the  same  tree,  but,  shy  am 
vvatchful,  endeavor  to  elude  everything  like  close  observation 


cr 


(.*\ 


YELLOW-BILLED   CUCKOO. 


433 


ROO. 


,ck;rcstoflowrnu 

pans  olive,  wub  a  ^b^^^ 
vvings  tinged  NV.lh  ruin. >, 

ir';  on  the  borck-r  of  . 
^  f,ail  affiiir  made  of  tvvi,u> 

|.S'S^een;i.3SXo.90. 

>e  micklle  and  coiaor 
,  Xpril  or  the  first  wc.k 

L  far  as  Nova  ScoUi. 
,  kluals  pass  no  farther 
;o  met  with  it  in  th. 

speaks  of  these  binl^ 
La  of  Jamaica.      IhcN 

forest,  and  are  equally 

,    where,  hke  piratua 
'  thickest  boughs  ;  an.. 
ey  are  faithfully  pam  a, 

me  tree,  but,  shy  aiv; 
like  close  obserN-ation. 


The  male,  however,  fre([uently  betrays  his  snug  retreat  l)y  his 
inonotunuus  and  guttural  kin-j  koK<  kou>  ko:^<,  or  koo  koo  k('o 
k(>o,  and  ko  kuk,  ko  kuk,   koo  k'>o  k'jo  kiik.  koo  ko  koo,  koo 
ko  koo,  uttereil  rruicr  low  and  plaintively,  like  the  call  of  die 
Dove.     At  other  times  the  koio  ko7o  ko7i',  and  Wk  '//•  '/k  '/k 
'tdk,  or  'kh   'kli  ^kJi   'kh  'kah  ko7o  koio  ki>K'  ko-o,  beginning 
>lo\v,  rises,  and  becomes  so  quick  as  almost  to  resemble  the 
grating  of  a  watchman's  rattle,  or  else,  commencing  with  this 
call,  terminates  in  the  distant  cry  of  koic  ko7c>  ko7o.    I'"rom  this 
note,  'supposed  to  be  most  clamorous  at  the  ai)proach  of  rain, 
it  has  received  in  Virginia  and  other  States  the  name  of  Roin- 
Cro7Ci  and  Co7ii-BiriL     At  various  seasons  during  tlie  contin- 
uance  of  warm  weather  the  vigil  ko7o  ko7o  kd7>.<  ko7j  of  the 
faithful  male  is  uttered  for  hours  at  intervals  throughout  the 
night.     The  same  notes,  but  tlelivered  in  a  slower  and  rather 
tender  strain,  are  given  with  great  regularity  likewise   in  the 
day  as  long  as  the  period  of  incubation  continues.     He  often 
steadfastly  watches  any  a])proach  to  the  nest,  going  to  it  occa- 
sionally to  assure  himself  that  it  is  unmolested  ;  and  at  times 
he  may  be  observed  darting  even  at  the  dormant  bnt,  who 
accidentally  seeks  repose  beneath  the  shady  leaves  of  some 
Luntiguous  tree,  so  that  he  is  no  less  vigilant  in  seeking  the 
security  of  his  own  i)rogeny  than  in  piratically  robbing  the 
iKsls  of  his  neighbors.     'I'here  are  two  or  three  other  species 
in  Jamaica  and  other  parts  of  tropical  America  possessing  a 
Hole  very  similar  to  that  of  our  bird,  which  also  fre(|uently 
.ipl>roaches,  when  delivered  in  the  plaintive  mood,  koo  k,>o  and 
,{•,,/  koo  koo,  the  usual  sound  of  the  Kuropean  Cuckoo.     'I'liere 
;■' .1  Mexican  species  {C/u-u/iis  riJihuuJus)  which  so  simulates 
.'.lighter  as  to   have  excited  the  superstition    of  the   nati\es, 
l>y  whom   it  is   hated   as   a  messenger  of  evil,  its  accidental 
11^ lie  of  risibility  being  construed  into  an  ominous  delight  in 
;iii>fortune. 

The  whole  tribe  of  Cuckoos  are  in  disgrace  for  the  unnatural 
conduct  of  the  European  and  some  other  foreign  species,  who, 
making  no  nests  nor  engaging  in  conjugal  cares  ])arasitically 
lejiosit  their  eggs  one  by  one  in  the  nests  of  other  small  j)irds, 

VMI,.    I.  —  28 


434 


CUCKOOS. 


to  whom  the  care  of  rearing  the  vagrant  foiindHng  is  uniformly 
consigned. 

liut  we  may  turn  with  satisfaction  to  tlie  conjugal  history  of 
our  own  subject,  which,  early  in  May  or  soon  after  its  arrival, 
may  be  at  times  observed  obstinately  engaged  in  the  (luarrel^ 
of  selective  attachment.    The  dispute  being  settled,  the  nest  is 
commenced,  and  usually  fixed  either  in  the  horizontal  branches 
of  an  apple-tree  or  in  a  thicket,  a  thorn-bush,  crab,  cedar,  or 
other  small  tree  in  some  retired  part  of  the  woods.    The  fabri( 
is  usually  very  slovenly  and  hastily  jnu  together,  and  jwssesses 
scarcely  any  concavity  f(;r  the  reception  of  the  young,  who  in 
consequence  often  fall  out  of  their  uncomfortable  cradle.     Thi 
nest  is  a  mere  tlooring  of  twigs  i)ut  together  In  a  zig-zag  form, 
then  blended  with  green  weeds  or  leaves  and  withered  blos- 
soms of  the  ma|jle,  apple,  or  hickory  catkins.     A  nest  near  the 
]jotanic  (iarden  had,  besides  twigs,  fragments  of  bass-mat,  and 
was  very  uncomfortably  heated,  and  damp  with  the  fermenta- 
tion of  the  green  tops  of  a  si)ecies  of  maple  introduced  into  it, 
and  the  whole  swarmed  with  thrush-lice  or  millipedes.     TIic 
eggs  are  of  a  l)luish-green  color,  often  pale,  varying  in  tliu 
shade  and  without  spots  ;  they  are  somewhat  roimil  and  ratlKr 
large.     If  they  are  handled  before  the  commencement  of  incu- 
bation, the  owner  generally  forsakes  the  nest,  but  is  very  tena- 
cious and  affectionate  towards  her  young,  and  sits  so  close  as 
almost  to  allow  of  being  taken  off  by  the  hand.     She  tlun 
frequently  precipitates  herself  to  the  ground,  lluttering,  tunili- 
ling,  and  feigning  lameness,  in  the  manner  of  many  other  afU  c- 
tionate  and  artful  birds,  to  draw  the  intruder  away  from  ihc 
premises  of  her  brood.     At  such  times  the  mother  also  add>  t'- 
the  contrivance  by  uttering  most  uncouth  and  almost  alarmiii.' 
guttural  sounds,  like  <///(?  (//f<i/i  gTcui///,  as  if  choking,  as  she  nm> 
along  the  ground.     While  the  female  is  thus  dutifully  enga,L:c(i 
in  sitting  on  her  charge,  the  male  takes  his  station  at  no  great  | 
distance,  and  gives  alarm  by  his  notes  at  the  ap])roach  of  am 
intruder ;  and  when  the  young  are  hatcheil,  both  unite  in  ihi 
labor  of  ])roviding  them  with  food,  which,  like  their  own,  (in- 
sists chiefly  of  the  hairy  caterpillars,  rejected  by  other  biril-,| 


jundling  is  uniformly 


VELLOW-j.n,LEn  CL'CK..,, 

that  so  commonly  infest  tl„,        i 

"f^  "-i,!,!,,  a  comn,o„  silky  wli'-rr'''  T''  '"•^-  '"  <""■■""- 
)vllo>v  cockclK,f.r,  C.„-,„,/  „„,  '•.  "'■>■"'■''" 'l™„r  the  lari:,. 
-  vario,,.,  .„„,  „f  l.rrie  V         ti    '""'^  •"■  "'«-'^  »»  -cM 

'"K  n„n  an,l  ,lis„„v  „.h„,,,,.p'-, '"^  ""'"  '^'"is  thus  sprea.l- 
-eral  broods  in  a  season,  an.  I  '  T"""'-  '''->■  ''"''> 
'  »  l«e  as  the  .Sth  of  A„g„s,  ._,„';;"  '■•  ""''  "'"'  ^X^^^  h. 
'I^:i»r.ua.  in  son,e  part  of  „,e  „,,  'f  ''^^  -■■'"y  take  their 
•nns  the  ti„,e  ,l,ev  are  en.-ev,  "'.'^^V'nnh.r.     C.n.i,,. 

>'"-«,   appearing  ,0   l,e   L,pro,    In,"      ''' '''"' "'■*■''''' f-'' 
■'■■■'!•"»,  so  that  a  consideral      ?  ,"""■'  "'"'   '-'   ■>-- 

"-■"  hatehed,  or  perish  soo ,  'ft'        n"  '"""'^■"'-  "•■"  "^'^^ 
''"«:''c.l  to  plaees  where  sm  ,M,  l', .   ""*  '-''--e  greatly 
-».k,ng  ,heir  eggs;  a„.l  I  1,  '  '   ^"^,  '^'•"":.  <"'  the  sake  of 
.'.cot  them,  as  >vhe„  „,eir  ne^s  are  r     ,     ,      '"""  '•"  '""«  '" 
"■"'  >he,-  contn.enee  again    „    ,1  •  ""'"""  """^''  «">- 

'•""ion  to  their  o,,eratL„,  i„  „,""',""  """"y'  '■«  ad.iing 
"■■■T  ™«t  „.id,.  ,„  „„.,  ;  '  ZTT'l  '"  ""■■  l"»«"tio,t 
;-'  '■"  some  low  l„,sh,  ,  h  :  ',  ;  ™"V""'  '■^"°^'"«  "-■ 
;;;^'  ■"  •■■  tan  lareh.  more  .  a  «  "I '1'  ""'  "'"■"""' 
"I'on  wholly  routed,  ,l,e  „,ale  I  '  ,„  '"'"  "''•'  e~"nd. 
f-v  for  several  davs,  appeirin.  „„  ''■,"  """'""'"1  *'"■ /v,. 
l>i^o™  predator,. -p;ac'Les"  *'"''''^'  ''^  "l'"i->'-c'  "f 

(areless  in  |)ro\-iding  comfor,  r  , 
'■■■'"  ^--koo,  like  thatlf"  :  /";  '"'^  '''"-"-v.  "-•  Anier. 
""■'■"■  'he  charge  of  her  offsp  r',,  r"?  "!  "'"'■■^  "«""ed  to 
"■-  to  this  haWt,  I  ha,-e  fo„  a',,™  7  "'''"  -^M--  h- 
"«' of  ■•>  Catbird;  K,  thoa,  d  ,  f „:' ""•'  <«'^""  i"  'I- 
''™ler  probably  intended  I  h  .,  e  "  ""'  """"''"''  ""■ 
"-\on  the  ,5,h  of  Jane,  „S3o       ,  ™  .^•f^^-   '^t  -"other 

'p  tn  ,1  indented  and  ,  ene'n  ed  T      ,  '  ""'  "''t''  t™ 


i'inLs 


cm 


forsook  the  i)rc- 


-posited    ii)    t) 


7  ^vas  not  ascertained,  — th 


'"'^«.  «o  that  the  c,l,iect  of 


K-    same  nest.      iJoth 


'jf  the 

''iK  k 


00. 


nest  would   seeni  to 


ioui,'h    the   I 
ha\-e   been  tl 


t'lis  forcihli 


"^;'-^'  appropriation 
1^'  intention  of  t, 


le 


■HOHI 


436 


CUCKOOS. 


Tliis  Cuckoo  is  common  in  southern  Ontario,  but  elsewhere  in 
the  Uoininion  it  is  ratlicr  rare.  Nuttall  has  not  mentioned  one 
peculiar  habit  of  this  birtl,  —  that  of  layin.t;  ej;.t,'s  at  such  long  inter- 
vals that  young  in  very  different  stages  of  maturity  are  frequently 
found  in  the  same  nest,  as  also  young  birds  and  partially  incubated 
eggs.  The  practice  of  laying  its  eggs  in  the  nests  of  other  birds  i.-, 
seldom  indulged  in,  —  indeed,  the  known  instances  arc  extremely 
rare. 


BLACK-UILLHD   CUCKOO. 

RAIN  CROW. 

Ci )a:v/:us  krvihri )1'h  1  hai.ml's. 

Chak.  Abme,  olive  Ijiowu  with  a  slight  metallic  gloss,  tinged  with 
ash  toward  the  bill;  wings  slightly  tinged  with  riilous;  tail  similar  to 
back,  outer  feathers  slightly  tinged  with  gray,  narrowly  tipped  with  whiti.. 
IScneatli,  white,  tinged  on  the  throat  with  pale  bul'f.  Hill  black.  Lenglii 
about  I.:  inches. 

A'ts/.  On  the  ctlge  of  a  swamjiy  wooil,  usually  in  a  retired  situatinn 
jilaced  generally  in  a  low  bush;  made  of  twigs,  strips  of  bark,  moss,  and 
catkins.  Similar  to  the  nest  of  the  Yellow-billed,  but  somewhat  firnKr 
and  more  artistic. 

E^<;gs.     2-6  (usually  4) ;  deep  glaucous  green  ;   i.io  X  o.So. 

This  species,  so  nearly  related  to  the  preceding,  is  also 
equally  common  throughout  the  United  States  in  summer,  and 
extends  its  migrations  about  as  far  as  the  line  of  Nova  Scoti.i 
or  Xewfoundhmd.  This  kind  also  exists  in  the  island  of  St. 
Domingo  anil  (luiana,  and  the  birds  which  visit  us  probably 
retire  to  pass  the  winter  in  the  nearest  parts  of  tropic  m1 
.America.  They  arrive  in  AFassachusetts  later  than  the  Yellow- 
billed  Cuckoo,  and  the  first  brood  are  hatched  here  about  tht 
4th  of  June.  In  (leorgia  they  begin  to  lay  towards  the  close 
of  April.  Their  food,  like  that  of  the  preceding  species,  also 
consists  of  hairy  caterpillars,  beetles,  and  other  insects,  am! 
even  minute  shell-fish.  They  also,  like  many  birds  of  other 
orders,  swallow  gravel  to  assist  digestion. 

They  usually  retire  into  the  woods  to  breed,  being  los- 
familiar  than  the  former,  choosing  an  evergreen  bush  or  sip 
ling  for  the  site  of  the  nest,  which  is  made  of  twigs  pretty  well 


MANGROVE  CUCKUD. 


437 


\)ut  dscwht-''"*^  in 
t  mentioned  one 
t  such  long  inUT- 
,iy  arc  (reciucnlly 
arlially  incubalcil 
s  of  oth^r  birds  i> 
CCS  arc  extremely 


'S. 

Uic  i-loss,  tinged  with 

.vlv  liH'-^l  vvuh  uh.K 
iliU  black.     Lengia 

,  ij,  a  retired  situati.^n 
ips  of  iKirk,  moss,  ami 
I'but  somewhat  fumu 

i.io  X  o.So. 
preceding,    is   also 

Ues  in  summer,  and 
ine  of  Nova  Scotia 
in  the  island  of  ^t. 
ch  visit  us  pro\)a\^ly 
St  parts  of  tropu  -a 
Ucr  than  the  Vellow- 

_ched  here  about  the 

ay  towards  the  close 

•cceding  species,  al>.| 

,1  other   insects,  anu 

[many  birds  of  otlui 

Lo  breed,  being  lov 
Ureen  bush  or  sai> 
[e^of  twigs  pretty  w^l' 


put  together,  but  still  little  more  than  a  concave  flooring,  and 
lined  with  moss  occasionally,  and  withered  catkins  of  tlie  hick- 
ory. 'I'he  female  sits  very  close  on  the  nest,  admitting  a  near 
a])proach  before  Hying ;  the  young,  before  at  tiuiring  their 
feathers,  are  of  a  uniform  bright  gra\isli  bine;  at  a  little  dis- 
tance from  tlie  nest  ihe  male  keei»>  \\\>  the  usual  rattling  call 
of  Xv^jt'  /v'<i'  /,-(i7i.'  /•('a',  the  note  in<  reasing  in  loudness  and 
(juickness;  sometimes  the  call  seem^  like  XV/  /•//' X7/' /•//  '/'// 
7,-(i//,  the  notes  growing  louder,  and  running  together  like  those 
of  the  Vellow-winged  W'cjodpecker.  'I'his  specie's  has  also, 
before  rain,  a  peculiar  call,  in  a  raucous,  guttural  voice,  like 
(inattotoo  or  worrattotoo.  it  is  less  timorous  than  the  Vellow- 
billed  kind  ;  and  near  the  ne^t  with  young.  1  have  obser\ed 
the  parent  composedly  sit  and  phune  it>elf  for  a  consiilerable 
lime  without  showing  any  alarm  at  my  presence.  It  is  e(|ually 
addicted  to  the  practice  of  sucking  the  eggs  of  other  birds. 
Indeed,  one  thai  I  saw  last  sunuuer.  kei)t  up  for  hours  a  con- 
stant watch  after  the  eggs  of  a  Rubin  sitting  in  an  ai)ple-tree, 
which,  'vith  her  ?nate.  ke|)t  up  at  intervals  a  running  fight  with 
the  Cuckoo  for  two  days  in  succession. 

This  species  is  considered  less  abundant  than  the  Vellow-billed, 
Imt  it  has  much  tlie  same  general  distribution  :  it  goes,  however, 
farther  north,  having  been  taken  in  Newfoundland  and  Labrador, 
and  is  common  in  Manitoba,  where  the  Vcllow-billed  is  not  found. 
The  Black-billed  is  rather  common  in  New  Brunswick  and  Nova 
.Scotia. 


M.ANGROVE   CUCK(  )0. 

COCCVZUS   MINOR. 

Char.  Above,  olive  ;  head,  ashy;  litlow,  hiuT  witli  tawny  tinL;c,  palci 
t<iwards  the  chi  . ;  middle  tailfeathcr  olive,  rest  Mack,  broadly  tipped 
with  white.     Length  12  inches 

Xt'st.     In  a  low  tree  or  hush  ;  loosely  made  of  twi^s. 

''■'CC-f-     3-4;  pale  green  or  bluish  green ;   1.25  X  090. 

The  iMangrove  Cuckoo  is  especially  a  West  Indian  bird,  but  is 
a  resident  also  of  tlie  Florida  Keys.  tliouL,di  not  common  thure. 
A  few  examples  have  been  met  with  in  Louisiana. 


43« 


WOUDIiXKKRS. 


Note.  —  M.\VN.\|{l)'s  CrcKod  {C.  iini,or  i/mviian/I),  a  sniallcT 
race,  with  paltr  lower  parts,  i.s  I'oiiiul  i.i  the  IJahania  islands  aiul  in 
Soiitlicrn  Florida. 

Noi  i;.  —  Nuttall  made  noinoiition  in  his  book  of  the  A\l  {Untfo- 
f>/itt^,i  tiiii j,  a  South  American  bird  tliat  Iiad  been  found  in  Loui- 
siana and  r'lorida.  It  was  hut  a  stra;;niLr  witiiin  the  borders  of  the 
I'nited  States  in  his  day.  and  is  still  (oiisidered  a  rare  bird  liere. 
A  few  years  ai^o  one  was  taken  near  Philadelphia  by  .Mr.  John 
K  rider. 


FLRKKK. 

(ii  I-I)I:N"-\VINGEU   WOODPIXKKK.      IMGEON    WOODPliCKER. 

IlKill-HOl-DHK. 

Col.Al'll.S    AL'K.VIL'S. 

Cir.VK.  .Aljove,  olive  brown  banc  ^!  with  black  ;  crown  and  sides  ol 
neck  bliii>h  ,i;ray;  red  cre>cent  on  najie;  mate  with  black  "moustache;" 
rump  white'  ;  beneatli  pale  brown  with  jiiiik  and  yellow  tints,  each  featlici 
bearing  a  -jiot  of  black  ;  shafts  and  uiulcr  surface  of  wmgs  and  tail 
golden  yellow.     Length  about  \z^2  inclie>. 

.\'ij7.  In  open  wooillanil,  pasture,  or  orchard;  a  cavity  excavated  m 
dead  trunk,  and  unlined  save  for  the  line  chips  made  by  the  boring. 

F.^i^'s.  6-10  (usiiallv  2  or  7)  ;  snow  white,  with  surface  like  highly 
polished  ivory;  i  to  X  o.')0. 

This  beatitiftil  and  well-known  bird  breeds  and  inhabits 
throughout  North  America,  lYoni  Labrador  and  the  remotest 
wood'.'d  regions  of  the  fur  rotintries  to  l'"lorida,  being  partially 
migrator}- only  from  Canada  and  the  Northern  States,  procee<l- 
ing  to  the  South  in  October,  and  returning  North  in  .\pril 
From  the  gre.U  nundiers  seen  in  the  Southern  States  in  wintii 
it  is  evident  that  the  major  jiart  migrate  thither  from  the  North 
and  West  to  ])ass  the  inclement  season,  which  naturally  de- 
prives them  of  the  means  of  accptiring  their  usual  sustenance. 
At  tills  time  also  they  feed  much  on  winter  berries,  stich 
those  of  the  stimach,  smilax,  and  mistletoe.  In  the  Midd 
States  some  of  these  birds  find  the  means  of  support  throu.ij 
the  most  inclement  months  of  the  winter.  In  New  Fnglam; 
they  rea]ipear  about  the  beginning  of  April,  soon  after  whi.  1; 


I'MCKKR. 


439 


■nar.ny  :x  smalk-r 
uui  islands  ami  m 

of  the  An  I  (0>"/.' 
•en  found  in  l.«'vn 
1  the  borders  of  tla 
I  ix  rare  bird  berc 
..Iphia  by  Mr.  John 


>^    WOODPIiCKF-R. 


•U ;  cv.nvn  and  sides  ot 
th'black"m(.iist;iehe; 
,eUuNV  tints. eaehfeadK' 

face   of  w'"S^    '^"'^   '•' 


».  a  c.ivitv  excavated  n. 
ade  bv  the  bovuig. 
th  surface  like   lugbK 

,rcc<ls  and  inhabits 
,,r  and  the  rcmotc.l 
orida,  being  partially 
horn  States,  procee.l- 
ning  North  in  April, 
ithern  States  in  wint.  V 

lither  from  the  Nortn 
.,  which  natttrally  .U  - 
,cir  usual  sustenan<  c 

nter  berries,  such  - 
etoe.     In  the  Mi<l(U 

^s  of  support  throu:-:! 

■r.     In  Now  Kngla;.' 

,pril,  soon  after  whM 


they  cuninience  to  pair  and  build  ;  for  this  j)urpose  they  often 
111, ike  clioice  of  llie  trunk  of  a  decayed  apple  or  forest  tree,  at 
dilt'erent  heights  from  tiie  ground.  When  an  accidental  cavity 
is  not  conveniently  found,  confident  in  tlie  formidable  means 
provided  them  by  nature,  wiili  no  other  aid  than  the  bill,  they 
have  been  known  to  make  a  winding  burrow  through  a  solitl 
oak  for  15  in<  hes  in  length.  At  this  labor,  for  greater  secu- 
rit\-  anil  privacy,  they  continue  till  late  in  the  evening,  and 
may  be  heard  dealing  blows  as  loud  and  successive  as  if  aitled 
by  the  tools  of  the  car[)enter.  My  friend  Mr.  (lainbel  ob- 
served the  present  spring  (1S40)  a  burrow  of  tills  kind  in 
Cambridge,  excavated  out  of  the  living  trunk  of  a  sassafras 
about  15  feet  from  the  ground.  It  was  about  S  inches  in 
diameter  and  iS  inches  deep,  dug  with  a  shelving  inclinaticjn  ; 
and  was  continueil  at  intervals  for  more  than  4  weeks  before 
it  was  completed.  The  eggs,  about  6,  and  pure  white,  are 
deposited  merely  up(jn  the  fragments  of  wood  which  line  the 
natural  or  artificial  ca\ity  thus  forming  the  nest.  'I'his  cell, 
before  the  yoimg  are  Hedged,  acquires  a  rank  and  disagreeable 
-mell ;  and  on  inserting  the  hand  into  it,  the  brood  unite  in 
producing  a  hissing,  like  so  many  hidden  snakes.  'I'hey  at 
leiigtli  escape  from  this  fetid  don  in  which  they  are  hatched; 
and  climbing  sometimes  into  the  higlier  branches  of  the  tree, 
are  tiiere  fed  until  able  to  llw  At  other  times  the  young  cling 
to  their  ])n)tecting  cell  with  great  pertinacity,  so  tliat  the 
kmale  will  often  call  ujion  them  for  hours  together  {(/i/rah 
///('(i"// ),  trying  e\ery  art  to  induce  them  to  ([uit  their  cradle, 
punishing  them  by  fasting,  till  at  length  they  are  forced  to 
(Dine  out  and  answer  to  her  incessant  plaint.  If  not  disturbed, 
liiey  will  occasionally  approach  the  farm-house;  and  I  have 
known  a  pair,  like  the  llluebirds,  repair  to  the  same  hole  in  a 
lii)l)lar-tree  ior  several  years  in  successinii,  merely  cleaning  out 
the  okl  bed  for  the  reception  of  their  eggs  and  young.  They 
incubate  by  turns,  feeding  each  other  while  thus  confined  to 
ti.e  nest,  and  are  both  likewise  ei|u.illy  solicitous  in  feeding 
.;:id  ])rotecting  their  young;  the  food  on  this  occasion  is  raist-d 
t  itcn  from  the  throat,  where  it  has  undergone  a   jireparatory 


440 


\vf)f)i»i'i:(Ki:us, 


pioc  LSI  for  digestion.  In  the  month  of  March,  in  Florida  and 
Alabama,  I  (jhscrvcd  them  already  |tairin_L;.  on  \vhi<  h  oicasion 
m.iii)  ])i'lulant  (|uarrels  daily  ensued  from  a  host  of  ri\'al  siii- 
tor^i,  a(  (ompanied  by  their  ordinary  cac  klinj,'  and  s(iuealin^'. 
( )ne  of  tlu'ir  tisiia!  complaisant  rccoL;nit ions,  often  deliverid  on 
a  fnn.'  nmrninu  from  the  smnmit  of  some  lofty  dead  limb,  is 
'7i'// (/  '/i'// 'a'//  'r»'//  'h'i/  ViV/  'h>it  li'iif  and  i>.'(>if  n  woit,  riv/V 
woit  riV'//  ri'r'//.  commencing  loud,  and  slowly  rising  and  (piic  k- 
ening  till  the  tones  rtm  together  into  a  nijise  almost  like  that 
of  a  \valchman'>  rattle.  'I'hey  have  also  a  sort  of  ( omplaining 
call,  from  which  they  have  probably  derived  their  name  ol 
/V(  />/.  /(V  ///.•  and  at  times  a  plaintive  t/iin'ih  <//it'i)/i,  t)cc,i- 
bionally  they  also  utter  in  a  s(iuealing  tone,  when  surprised,  oi 
engagetj  in  amusing  ri\alry  with  their  fellows,  uv-rr ';,•//  -i^u-cogh 
ikU-cot^h  Ti't-rci^/i  or  7i'tr///>  wcciif^  lotciip. 

'I'he  food  of  these  birds  varies  with  the  season.     They  arc 
at    all    times    exceedingly  fond   of  wood-lice,  ants,  and  their 
larv.X'  ;  and  as  the  fruits  become  mature,  they  also  add  to  their 
ample  fare  common  cherries,  bird  cherries,  winter  grapes,  gum- 
berries,  the  berries  of  the  red-cedar,  as  well  as  of  the  smnach, 
smilax.  and  (Jther  kinds.     As  the  maize  too  rijK'ns,  the  I'licker 
jjays  frequent  visits  to  the  fielil  ;  and  the  farmer,  readily  ft 
getful  of  its  i)ast  services,  only  remembers  its  ])resent  fault 
and  closing  its  career  with  the  gun,  unthinkingly  dcx's  to  hin 
self  and  the  public  an  essential  injury  in  saving  a  few  unim 
portant  ears  of  corn.     In  this  part  of  \ew  Mngland  it  is  know 
by  the  name  of  Pigeon  Woodpecker,  from  its  general  bulk  an 
ap])earance  ;  and,  to  the  disgrace  of  our  jjaltry  fowlers,  it 
in  the  autumn  but  too  frequently  seen  exposed  for  sale  in  t 
markets,    though    its    flesh  is  neither  fat  nor   delicate.     It 
exceedingly  to  be  regretted  that  ignorance  and  wantonness 
these  particulars  should   be  so  productive  of  cruelty,  dev; 
tation,  and  injurious  ]-)olicy  in  regard  to  the  animals  with  wh 
amusing  and  useful  company  Nature  has  so  wonderfully  ai 
beneficently  favored  us. 


()- 


-h,  in  I'loridci  and 
mAvIu.U  (..casion 

ho.l  nf  rival  MU- 
i,v4  and  Miucalm;^. 

nUon  .IclivcMvd  on 

lofty  dead  Innl),  is 
[  :.v//  "  7i'<'/A  '^ '•'''/ 
ly  rising;  and  <inUk- 
isc  almost  like  that 

sen  of  i  onn)Uunuv-; 
•ivfd   their  name  ot 

,.  when  MHi-n^ed,  i.i 

,,  season.    'Hwy  ar. 
;.Uce,  anls,  and  tluar 

they  also  add  to  their 
,s.  winter  i^rapes,  gum- 
Uvell  as  of  the  sumarh, 

too  ripens,  the  Muker 

K-  farmer,  rea.lily  fov- 

bers  its  present  faults. 

.inkingly  does  to  hm^ 

in  saving  a  few  untm- 

ewKnglanditisknown 

,n.  its  general  bulk  an;l 
HU  paltry  fowlers,  U  ^ 
■xposed  for  sale  m  tlul 
in  nor    delicate.     U 
knee  and  wantonness  uJ 
'■tive  of   cruelty,  dev:.>-l 
'  the  animals  with  who- 
[has  so  wonderfully  a>u.| 


iv()Rv-iiii.i.i;i)  w(K)I)J'i:cki:r. 

CaMPF.I'HILUS    PRINCIPAI.IS. 

CiiAR.  Glossy  hlack  ;  white  stripe  from  Mil  down  sides  of  neck  ;  sl.t])- 
ulars  and  secondaries  wliitc;  bill  ivory  white.  Male  with  crest  of  scarlet 
and  l)lack  ;  female  with  crest  of  black.     Length  21  inches. 

.\V>A  In  a  cypress-swamp  or  deep  forest  ;  a  cavity  excavated  in  a  live 
tree. 

/•;^:;'.f.     4-6;  white;  1.40  X  i. 00. 

This  large  and  sploncMd  bird  is  a  native  of  lira/.il,  Mexit  o, 
and  the  Southern  States,  beini^  scldoni  seen  to  the  north  of 
\'irL,nnia,  and  but  rarely  in  tliat  State.  He  is  a  constant 
resident  in  the  countries  where  he  is  found,  breeding  in 
the  rainy  season,  and  the  pair  are  belirvcd  to  be  tniited 
for  life.  More  vagrant,  retiring,  and  independent  than  fhi> 
rest    of   his   faniily,    he    is    never   foiuid    in  the  precincts    of" 


442 


WOODPECKERS. 


cultivated  tracts ;  the  scene  of  his  dominion  is  the  lonely 
forest,  amidst  trees  of  the  greatest  magnitude.  His  reiterated 
trumpeting  note,  somewhat  similar  to  the  high  tones  of  the 
clarinet  {pait  pait pait pait')^  is  heard  soon  after  day,  and  until 
a  late  morning  hour,  echoing  loudly  from  the  recesses  of  the 
dark  cypress- swamps,  where  he  dwells  in  domestic  security 
without  showing  any  impertinent  or  necessary  desire  to  quit 
his  native  solitary  abodes.  Upon  the  giant  trunk  and  rnoss- 
grown  arms  of  this  colossus  of  the  forest,  and  amidst  almost 
inaccessible  and  niinous  piles  of  mouldering  logs,  the  high, 
rattling  clarion  and  rapid  strokes  of  this  princely  Woodpecker 
are  often  the  only  sounds  which  vibrate  through  and  commu- 
nicate an  air  of  life  to  these  dismal  wilds.  His  stridulous, 
interrupted  call,  and  loud,  industrious  blows  may  often  be 
heard  for  more  than  half  a  mile,  and  become  audible  at  vari- 
ous distances  as  the  elevated  mechanic  raises  or  depresses  his 
voice,  or  as  he  flags  or  exerts  himself  in  his  laborious  employ- 
ment. His  retiring  habits,  loud  notes,  and  singular  occupa- 
tion, amidst  scenes  so  savage  yet  majestic,  nffonl  withal  a 
peculiar  scene  of  solemn  grandeur  on  which  the  mind  dwells 
for  a  moment  with  sublime  contemplation,  convinced  that 
there  is  no  scene  in  Nature  devoid  of  harmonious  consistence. 
Nor  is  the  performance  of  this  industrious  hermit  less  remark- 
able than  the  peals  of  his  sonorous  voice  or  the  loud  choppings 
of  his  powerful  bill.  He  is  soon  surrounded  with  striking 
monuments  of  his  industry ;  like  a  real  carpenter  (a  nick-name 
given  him  by  the  Spainards),  he  is  seen  surrounded  with  cart- 
loads of  chii)s  and  l)road  flakes  of  bark  which  rapidly  accumun 
late  round  the  roots  of  the  tall  pine  and  cypress  where  he  had 
been  a  few  hours  employed  ;  the  work  of  half  a  dozen  mei] 
felling  trees  for  a  whole  morning  would  scarcely  exceed  tht 
pile  he  has  iiroduced  in  cp  est  of  a  single  breakfast  upon  thosd 
insect  larvre  which  have  already,  perhaps,  succeeded  in  dead) 
ening  tlie  tree  preparatory  to  his  repast.  Many  thousanJ 
acres  of  pine-trees  in  the  Southern  States  have  been  destroyeJ 
in  a  single  season  by  the  insidious  attacks  of  insects  which  if 
the  dormant  state    are  not  larger  than  a   grain  of  rice. 


IVORV-niLLED   WOODPECKER. 


443 


on  is  the  lonely 
;.     His  reiterated 
ligh  tones  of  the 
fter  day,  and  until 
le  recesses  of  the 
domestic  security 
ary  desire  to  quit 
t  trunk  and  rnoss- 
and  amidst  almost 
ing  logs,  the  high, 
-incely  Woodpecker 
.rough  and  commu- 
[ds      His  stridulous, 
lows   may   often  be 
,me  audible  at  van-      , 
aises  or  depresses  his 
i,is  laborious  em\)loy- 
and  singular  occupa- 
,,tic,   afford   NvitVial   a 
^hich  the  mind  dv/ells 
[tion,   convinced   that 
.rmonious  consistence. 
as  hermit  less  remark- 
,or  the  loud  choppings 
Landed   Nvilh   striking 
arpenter  (a  nick-name 

surrounded  with  cart- 
Lhich  rapidly  accunni- 
l  cypress  where  he  has 
I  of  half  a  dozen  men 
tl  scarcely  exceed  the 
\c  breakfast  upon  those 
,)s,  succeeded  in  dead- 
last,     ^lany   thousand 
L  have  been  destroyed 
[cks  of  insects  which  m 
n   a   grain  of  rice.      U 


is  in  quest  of  these  enemies  of  the  most  imposing  part  of  the 
vegetable  creation  that  the  industrious  and  indefatigable  Wood- 
pecker exercises  his  peculiar  labor.  In  the  sound  and  healthy 
tree  he  finds  nothing  which  serves  him  for  food. 

One  of  these  birds,  which  Wilson  wounded,  survived  with 
him  nearly  three  days,  but  was  so  savage  and  uncomjuerable  as 
to  refuse  all  sustenance.  When  taken,  he  reiterated  a  loud  and 
piteous  complaint,  almost  exactly  like  the  violent  crying  of  a 
young  child  ;  and  on  being  left  alone  in  a  tavern,  in  the  course 
of  an  hour  he  had  nearly  succeeded  in  making  his  way  through 
the  side  of  the  wooden  house.  He  also  cut  the  author  severely 
in  several  places  while  engaged  in  drawing  his  portrait,  and 
displayed,  as  long  as  he  survived,  the  uncomiuerable  spirit  of  a 
genuine  son  of  the  forest.  From  his  magnanimous  courage 
and  ardent  love  of  liberty,  the  head  and  bill  are  in  high  er,teein 
among  the  amulets  of  the  Southern  Indians. 

The  nest  of  this  species  is  usually  made  in  the  living  trunk 
of  the  cypress-tree  at  a  considerable  height,  both  sexes  alter- 
nately engaging  in  the  labor.  The  excavation  is  said  to  be 
two  or  more  fcL.  in  de])th.  The  young  are  tledged  and  abroad 
about  the  middle  of  June.  It  is  usually  known  by  the  name  of 
"  Large  Log-cock."  This  species  apjicars  to  live  almost  wholly 
upon  insects,  and  chiefly  those  that  bore  into  the  wood,  which 
never  l;iil  in  tlie  country  he  inhabits  ;  nor  is  he  ever  known 
to  taste  of  Indian  corn  or  any  sort  of  grain  or  orchard 
fruits,  though  he  has  a  fondness  for  gra[)es  and  other  kinds  of 
lierries. 

Tills  spccifS  is   now  restricted   to  ihc   Gull    States   and   lower 
Mississippi  valley. 


PILE  ATE  I)    WOODPECKER. 

log-cock.   black  woodcock, 
Ceophl(i:us  I'ileatus. 

Char.  General  color  greenish  black ;  wide  stripe  of  wliite  from  the 
bill  clown  tlic  sides  of  tlie  neck;  ciiin.  tiiroat,  and  i)art  of  wings  white  or 
pale  yellow.  Male  with  scarlet  crown,  crest,  and  check  patch.  Female 
with  crest  jjartly  black  and  no  scarlet  on  cheek.  Length  about  ii5 
Indies. 

AV.fA  In  a  deep  forest  or  the  seclusion  of  a  swanijiy  grove;  cxcavatec 
in  high  trees,  and  lined  only  with  fine  cliips. 

£i,%''S.     4-6  ;  snow  white  and  glossy  ;   1.25  X  1.00. 

This  large  and  common  Woodpecker,  considerably  resem- 
bling the  preceding  species,  is  not  unfrecinent  in  well-timberec 
forests  from   Mexico  and   Oregon    to   the  remote   regions  v 
Canada,  as  far  as  the  63d  degree  of  north  latitnde  ;  and  in  al 
the  intermediate  regi(jn  he  resides,  breeds,  and  passes  most  of 
the  year,  retiring  in  a  (lesnl'ory  manner  only  into  the  Sonthern 
States  for  a  few  months  in  the  most  inclement  season  froin  the 
North   and   West.     In  Pennsylvania,   however,  he  is  seen  a> 
a  resident  more  or  less  thrc>nghoiit  the  whole  year ;  and  Mr. 


riLEATEI)   WOODPECKER. 


445 


COCK. 


.tnpc  of  white  from  the 
a  part  of  vvings  white  ov 
Hi  check  patch.  Female 
beck.     Length   about   lb 

wampy  grove;  excavated 

.00. 

,  considerably  resem- 
luciit  in  wcll-limbcrc'd 
U  remote  regions  vi 
ih  latitude  ;  and  in  all 
,1s.  and  passes  most  of 
lonlv  into  the  SotUhern 
niient  season  from  the 
,\vever,  he  is  seen  as 
whole  year  ;  and  Mv. 


Hutchins  met  with  him  in  the  interior  of  Hudson  Bay,  near 
Albany  River,  in  the  month  of  January.  It  is,  however,  suf- 
ficiently singular,  and  shows  perhaps  the  wild  timidity  of  this 
northern  chief  of  his  tribe,  that  though  an  inhabitant  towards 
the  c.ivage  and  desolate  sources  of  the  Mississii)pi,  he  is  lui- 
known  at  this  time  in  all  the  maritime  parts  of  the  populous 
and  long-settled  State  of  Massachusetts.  In  the  western  parts 
of  the  State  of  New  \'ork  he  is  sufificiently  common  in  the 
uncleared  forests,  which  have  been  the  perpetual  residence  of 
his  remotest  ancestry.  From  the  tall  trees  which  cast  their 
giant  arms  over  all  the  uncleared  river  lands,  may  often  be 
heard  his  loud,  echoing,  and  incessant  cackle  as  he  flies 
restlessly  from  tree  to  tree,  presaging  the  approach  of  rainy 
weather.  These  notes  resemble  ckcrck  rek  irk  irk  irk  irk  irk 
uttered  in  a  loud  cadence  which  gradually  rises  and  falls.  'I'he 
marks  of  his  industry  are  also  abundantly  visible  on  the  decay- 
ing trees,  which  he  probes  and  chisels  with  great  dexterity, 
stripi)ing  off  wide  flakes  of  loosened  bark  to  come  at  the  bur- 
rowing insects  which  chiefly  compose  his  food.  In  whatever 
engaged,  haste  and  wildness  seem  to  govern  all  his  motions, 
and  by  dodging  and  flying  from  place  to  place  as  soon  as 
observed,  he  continues  to  escape  every  appearance  of  danger. 
F^-en  in  the  event  of  a  fatal  wound  he  still  struggles  witii  uncon- 
(juerable  resolution  to  maintain  his  grasp  on  the  tnmk  to  which 
he  trusts  for  safety  to  the  very  instant  of  death.  When  caught 
by  a  disabling  wound,  he  still  holds  his  ground  against  a  tree, 
and  strikes  with  bitterness  the  suspicious  hand  which  attempts 
to  grasp  him,  and,  resolute  for  his  native  liberty,  rarely  submits 
to  live  in  confinement.  Without  much  foundation,  he  is  charged 
at  times  with  tasting  maize.  I  have  observed  one  occasionally 
making  a  hearty  repast  on  holly  and  smilax  berries. 

This  species  is  being  driven  I)ack  hy  "  civilization,"  and  is  now 
ioiuid  only  in  the  deeper  forests.  Mr.  William  lirewster  reports 
that  a  few  pairs  still  linger  in  llie  northern  part  of  Worcester 
County,  Mass. 


mmm 


446 


WOODPECKERS. 


RED-HEADED   WOODPECKER. 

MeLANKKI^ES    EKVIHRIJCEI'MALUS. 

CiiAR.  Iiack,  tail,  and  primaries  l)liic  black;  head,  neck,  and  breast 
criiiisun  ;  belly,  rump,  and  secondaries  while.     Length  9  to  9^2  inches 

A\s/.  In  woodland,  pasture,  or  orchard  ;  usually  a  cavity  in  a  decayed 
tree. 

£i,X^.     4-6;  glossy  white  ;  i.oo  X  o.tio. 

This  common  and  well-known  species  is  met  with  along  the 
coast  from  Nova  Scotia  to  the  Gulf  of  Mc.kIco,  and  inland  in 
the  region  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  about  the  sources  of 
the  Mississippi.  In  all  the  intermediate  country,  however 
extensive,  it  probably  resides  and  breeds.  At  the  ap]^roach 
of  winter,  or  about  the  middle  of  October,  these  birds  migrate 
from  the  North  and  West,  and  conscvqucntly  ajipear  very 
numerous  in  the  Southern  States  at  that  season.  Many  of 
them  also  probably  pass  into  the  adjoining  ])rovinces  of  Mex- 
ico, and  they  reappear  in  Pennsylvania  (according  to  Wilson) 
about  the  first  of  May.  According  to  Audubon,  they  effect 
their  migration  in  the  night,  flying  high  above  the  trees  in  a 
straggling  file,  at  which  time  they  are  heard  to  emit  a  sharj) 
and  peculiar  note,  easily  heard  from  the  ground,  although  the 
birds  themselves  are  elevated  beyond  the  sight.  Like  the 
l,og-cock,  the  present  species  is  but  rarely  seen  in  the  mari- 
time parts  of  Massachusetts  ;  this  region  is  only  occasionally 
visited  by  solitary  stragglers,  yet  in  the  western  parts  of  the 
State  it  is  said  to  be  as  common  as  in  the  Middle  States. 

These  birds  live  ])rincijially  in  old  forests  of  tall  trees,  but  are 
much  less  shy  than  most  of  the  genus,  frecpiently  visiting  the 
orchards  in  quest  of  ripe  fruits,  particularly  cherries  and  juicy 
pears  and  apples,  with  which  they  likewise  occasionally  feed 
their  young.  'I'hey  also  at  times  eat  acorns,  of  which  they  are 
said  to  lay  uji  a  store,  and  visit  the  maize-fields,  being  partial 
to  the  corn  while  in  its  juicy  or  milky  state.  In  consecjuence 
of  these  depen<lent  habits  of  subsistence,  the  Red-headed 
Woodpecker  is  a  very   familiar  species,  and  even  sometimes 


KED-IIEADLI)   WOODI'LCKEU. 


447 


L'S. 

cad,  neck,  and  breast 
;lh  9  to  9>2  inches 
'  a  cavity  in  a  decayed 


met  with  along  the 
xico,  ami  inland  in 
)OUt  the  sources  of 
country,   however 
At  the  approach 
these  birds  migrate 
uently    appear   very 
t  season.     Many  of 
r  ])rovinces  of  Mex- 
ccording  to  Wilson) 
uulubon,  they  effect 
iibove  the  trees  in  a 
ard  to  emit  a  sharp 
rround,  although  the 
he  sight.     Like  the 
.y  seen  in  the  mari- 
is  only  occasionally 
western  parts  of  the 
Middle  States-, 
of  tall  trees,  but  are 
K'(iuently  visiting  the 
■ly  cherries  and  juicy 
occasionally  feed 
js,  of  which  they  are 
Ic-fields,  being  partial 
,te.     In  consequence 
Ice,  the   Red-headed 
,nd  even  sometimes 


not  only  nests  in  the  orchard  which  supplies  him  with  suste- 
nance, but  ventures  to  rear  his  brood  within  the  boundaries  of 
the  most  jKJinilous  towns.  In  the  latter  end  of  summer  its 
reiterated  tappings  and  cackling  screams  are  freciuenily  heard 
from  the  shady  fmests  which  border  tlie  rivulets  iu  more 
secluded  and  less  fertile  tracts.  It  is  also  not  unconnnon  to 
observe  them  on  the  fence-rails  and  posts  near  the  public 
roads,  flitting  before  the  i)assenger  with  the  familiarity  ot" 
Sparrows.  In  the  Southern  States,  where  the  miklness  of  the 
climate  prevents  the  necessity  of  migration,  this  brilliant  bird 
seems  half  domestic.  The  ancient  live-oak,  his  cradle  and 
residence,  is  cherished  as  a  domicile  :  he  cree])S  around  its 
ponderous  weathered  arms,  views  the  passing  scene  wuh  com- 
placence, turns  every  insect  visit  to  his  advantage,  and  for 
hours  together  placidly  reconnoitres  the  surrounding  fields.  At 
times  he  leaves  iiis  lofty  citadel  to  examine  the  rails  of  the 
fence  or  the  boards  of  the  adjoining  barn  ;  striking  terror  into 
his  lurking  prey  by  the  stridulous  tai)])ings  of  his  bill,  lie 
hearkens  to  their  almost  inaudible  movements,  and  discovering 
their  retreat,  dislodges  them  from  their  burrows  by  (juirkly 
and  dexterously  chiselling  out  the  decaying  wood  in  which  they 
are  hid,  ami  transfixing  them  with  his  sharp  and  barbed 
tongue.  r>ut  his  favorite  and  most  productive  resort  is  to  the 
adjoining  fields  of  dead  and  girdled  trees,  amidst  whose 
bleaching  trunks  and  crumbling  l)ranches  he  long  contiinies  to 
find  an  ample  repast  of  dei)redating  and  boring  insects.  When 
the  cravings  of  ajjpetite  are  satisfied,  our  busy  hunter  occa- 
sionally gives  way  to  a  ])layful  or  iiuarrelsome  disitosition,  and 
with  shrill  and  lively  vociferations  not  unlike  those  of  the 
neighboring  tree-frog,  he  pursues  in  a  gracefiil,  ciu'ving  flight  his 
companions  or  rivals  round  the  bare  limbs  of  some  dead  tree 
U)  which  they  resort  for  combat  or  friili(  . 

About  the  middle  of  May,  in  IVmis_\lvania,  they  burrow  out 
or  ])repare  their  nests  in  the  large  limbs  of  trei's,  adding  no 
materials  to  the  cavity  which  they  smooth  out  tor  the  purjjose. 
As  with  the  ISluebird,  the  same  tree  continues  to  l)e  employed 
tor  several  vears  in  succession,  and  iirohahlv  \>\  the  same  undi- 


448 


WOODPECKERS. 


vidcd  pair.  The  eggs  and  young  of  this  and  many  other  birds 
occasionally  fall  a  prey  to  the  attack;  of  the  common  black 
snake.  The  young  are  easily  tamed  for  a  while,  and  when  left 
at  large  come  for  some  time  regularly  to  be  fed,  uttering  a  cry 
to  call  attention.  I  have  seen  them  feed  on  corn-meal  paste, 
a  large  piece  of  which  the  bird  would  carry  off  to  a  distance 
and  eat  at  leisure. 

This  species  is  common  in  Ontario  and  near  Montreal,  hut  is 
only  an  accidental  visitor  to  other  portions  of  eastern  Canada.  It 
is  usually  a  rare  bird  to  the  eastward  of  the  Hudson  River,  though 
in  tlie  fall  of  uSSi  it  was  quite  common  in  parts  of  Connecticut  and 
Massacluisetts. 

The  hal)it  of  this  bird  —  in  common  with  others  of  t!ie  family  — 
to  store  nuts  and  grain  for  winter  use,  l)rietly  alluded  to  by  Nuttall, 
has  been  contirmed  frequently  i)y  recent  ol)servers.  An  interesting 
paper  on  this  sul:)ject  by  ().  1'.  Hay  appeared  in  the  "  Auk  "  for 
July,  1SS7. 


Ri:i)-r.KLLIED   \V(X)I)Pi:CKKR. 

M  KI„\NKRPi:S    CAR(  )IJNUS. 

CllAU.  AI)ove,  black  and  white  in  narrow  bands;  tail  black  and 
white  ;  beneath,  pale  butt;  belly  rosy  red.  Male,  with  crown  and  back 
of  head  scarlet,  which  in  the  female  is  replaced  by  dull  ash. 

AI'.iV.  Usually  in  a  secluded  forest  of  tall  trees;  a  cavity  cut  in  a  deac 
trunk  or  limb. 

E,:^'^s.    4-6;  white  and  glossy ;  i.oo  X  0.75. 

This  species  inhabits  the  whole  North  American  contfnent, 
from  the  interior  of  Canada  to  Florida,  and  even  the  island  o 
Jamaica,  in  all  of  which  countries  it  probal)ly  rears  its  young, 
migrating  only  partially  from  the  colder  regions.  This  also, 
like  the  preceding,  is  unknown  in  all  the  eastern  parts  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  ])robably  New  Hampshire. 

The  Red-bellied  Woodpecker  dwells  in  the  solitude  of  tht 
forest ;  amidst  the  tall  and  decayed  trees  only  he  seeks  his  less 
varied  fare,  and  leads  a  life  of  roving  wildness  and  indej)end- 
ence,  congenial  with  his  attachment  to  freedom  and  liberty. 
Sometimes,  however,  on  the  invasion  of  his  native  haunts  by 


RED-BELLIED   WOODrECKER. 


449 


many  other  birds 
e  common  black 
i\e,  and  when  left 
eil,  uttering  a  cry 
1  corn-meal  paste, 
^  off  to  a  distance 

ar  Montreal,  but  is 
eastern  Canada.  U 
Klson  Hiver,  though 
i  of  Connecticut  ana 

hers  of  the  family -- 
aiudecl  to  by  Nuttall, 
•vers.    An  hitcrestnv^ 


;d  in 


the 


Auk""  lor 


.CKKR. 


bands;   tail   black   and 
,  with  crown  and  back 

,Y  duU  ash. 

:s;  a  cavity  cut  ma  dead 


\merican  continent, 
ivl  even  the  island  of 
ribly  rears  its  young, 
regions.     Tbis  also, 
eastern  parts  of  Mas- 


n 


1  the  solitude  of  the 

only  he  seeks  his  less 

Hldness  and  independ- 

'  freedom  and  liberty. 

his  native  haunts  by 


the  progress  of  agriculture,  he  may  be  seen  prowling  among 
the  dead  and  girdled  trees  which  now  afford  him  an  augmented 
source  of  support ;  and,  as  a  chief  of  the  soil,  he  sometimes 
claims  his  native  rights  by  collecting  a  small  tithe  from  the 
usurping  field  of  maize.  His  loud  and  harsh  call  of  ^tshow 
Ushoto  'tshow  Ushow,  reiterated  like  the  barking  of  a  cur,  may 
often  be  heard,  through  the  course  of  the  day,  to  break  the 
silence  of  the  wilderness  in  which  his  congenial  tribe  are 
almost  the  only  residents.  On  a  fine  spring  morning  I  have 
observed  his  desultory  ascent  up  some  dead  and  lofty  i)ine, 
tapping  at  intervals,  and  dodging  from  side  to  side,  as  he  as- 
cended in  a  spiral  line ;  at  length,  having  gained  the  towering 
summit,  while  basking  in  the  mild  sunbeams,  he  sur\-eys  the 
extensive  landscape,  and  almost  with  the  same  reverberating 
sound  as  his  blows,  at  intervals  he  utters  a  loud  and  solitary 
'cur'rh  in  a  tone  as  solemn  as  the  tolling  of  the  Campanero.. 
He  thus  hearkens,  as  it  were,  to  the  shrill  echoes  of  his  own 
voice,  and  for  an  hour  at  a  time  seems  alone  employed  in  con- 
templating, in  cherished  solitude  and  security,  the  beauties  and 
blessings  of  the  rising  day. 

The  nest,  early  in  April,  is  usually  made  in  some  lofty 
branch ;  and  in  this  labor  both  the  sexes  unite  to  dig  out  a  cir- 
cular cavity  for  the  purjiose,  sometimes  out  of  the  solid  wood, 
but  more  commonly  into  a  hollow  limb.  The  young  appear 
towards  the  close  of  May  or  early  in  June,  climbing  out  upon 
the  higher  branches  of  the  tree,  where  they  are  fed  and  reared 
until  able  to  fly,  though  in  the  mean  time  from  their  exjiosure 
they  often  fall  a  prey  to  prowling  Hawks.  These  birds  usually 
raise  but  one  brood  in  the  season,  and  may  be  considered,  like 
the  rest  of  their  insect-devouring  fraternity,  as  useful  scaven- 
gers for  the  protection  of  the  forest ;  their  attacks,  as  might  be 
reasonably  exi)ected,  being  always  confined  to  decaying  trees, 
which  alone  afford  the  prey  for  which  they  probe. 

This  bird  is  common  in  parts  of  Ontario,  hut  has  not  l)een  taken 
elsewhere  in  Canada.  It  is  common  in  Ohio,  and  ianL;<  s  as  far  to 
the  southward  as  Florida,  but  is  very  rare  in  New  England. 


VOL.    T. 


-9 


YELLUW-BKLI-IKl)    SAl'SrCKKR. 

SrilVKAI'lCUS    VAKIUS. 

("HAR.  Above,  l)lack  and  white,  back  tiiii^od  with  vcllow;  crown  and 
chin  scarlet,  Ijordcrcd  by  l)hicl< ;  checks  blaii<,  buniercd  In  while  or  pak 
yclkiw ;  breast  bhick  ;  belly  ])ale  yellow.  In  females  the  scarlet  on  cliin 
is  replaced  by  white.     Length  .S'2  inches. 

.\\s/.  In  woodland  ;  a  cavity  in  a  dead  trunk  of  large  tree  ;  sometiiiicj 
excavated  in  a  live  tree. 

Avi'^f-    4-7  ;  white  ;  0.S5  X  0.60. 

This  species,  according   to  the    season,  extends    over   thi 
whole  American  continent,  from  the  53d  degree  to  the  trojjio 
where  it  is  seen  in  Cayenne.     \Vith  us  it  is  most  comnioi 
in   summer  in  the    Northern   and   Middle  States,  and  as  fa 
north  as  Nova  Scotia.     At  this  season  it  is  seldom  seen  beyom 
the  precincts  of  the  forest,  in  which  it  selects  the  most  solitar 
recesses,  leaving  its  favorite  haunts  only  at  the  approach 
winter,  and  seeking,  from   necessity  or  caprice,  at  this  rovin 
season  the  boundaries  of  the  orchard.     The  habits  of  this  bir 
are  but  little  different  from  those  of  the  Hairy  and  Down 
Woo(l])eckers,  with  which  it  is  often  associated  in  their  for; 
ging  excursions.     The  nest,  as  usual,  is  made  in  the  body 
some  decayed  orchard  or  forest  tree,  the  circular  entrance 


HAIRY  WOODPECKER. 


451 


irCKKR. 


dwitb  vellow;  crown  ami 
>,„,acvcd  l.v  white  or  ixik 
„Kiles  the  scurkt  on  c\w 

of  large  tree;  someume^ 


;on,  extends    over    the 
.  degree  to  the  tropics, 
IS  it  is  most  common 
Idle  States,  and  as  far 
is  seldom  seen  beyon>l 
elects  the  most  solitary 
ily  at  the  approach  o\ 
caprice,  at  this  roving 
The  habits  of  this  bn>l 
the  Hairy  and  Downy 
ssociated  in  their  fora- 
s  made  in  the  body  oi 
:  circular  eiitrance  to 


which  is  left  only  just  sufficient  for  the  passage  of  the  parties. 
'Ihc  depth  of  the  cavity  is  about  15  inches,  and  the  eggs,  4  or 
upwards,  are  white.  'Ihe  principal  food  of  these  birds  is  insects, 
for  they  sometimes  bore  the  trunks  of  the  orchard  trees. 

The  "sapsucking"  habit  of  this  species,  denied  by  some  of  our 
most  eminent  naturalists,  has  Ijeen  establisiied  by  Mr.  Frank 
liolles,  ulu)  published  an  interesting  account  of  his  observations  in 
"The  Auk  "  for  July,  1891. 

For  several  days  Mr.  liollts  almost  continuously  watciied  a 
number  of  those  l)irds  while  they  operated  on  trees  in  tlie  vicinity 
of  iiis  summer  home  at  Ciiicarua,  N.  H.  The  birds  drilieil  holes 
in  maple,  oak,  hireli,  and  asli  trees,  and  drank  the  sap  as  it  dripped 
from  these  holes.  When  one  set  of  lioles  became  "dry,"  otliers 
were  drilled,  ei,i,du  to  sixteen  on  each  tree,  the  new  holes  l)eing 
made  Iiigher  up  tlian  the  old.  Some  of  the  birds  .spent  about 
nine  tentiis  of  tiie  time  in  drinkini;  tlie  sap.  Mr.  Holies  placed 
under  the  trees  cups  made  of  I)ircli  l)ark  and  tilled  with  maple 
syrup,  whicli  the  l)irds  drank  freely.  Latek'  brandy  was  added, 
with  amusing  conseciuences,  the  mixture  finally  acting  as  an  emetic. 
He  moreover  states  that  the  sap  was  not  used  as  a  trap  for  insects, 
as  some  writers  have  supposed ;  and  while  the  birds  caught  insects 
occasionally,  these  did  not  ajjpear  to  form  a  large  part  of  their  diet. 
An  examination  of  the  stomachs  of  a  few  birds  revealed  hut  little 
insect  remains,  and  that  little  was  composed  chiefly  of  ants. 


H.MRV    WOODPFCKKR. 

1)rvoi!atks  vii.i.osrs. 

Char.  Above,  black  and  white,  the  Ixick  with  lone;,  slender,  loose 
liair-likc  feathers;  beneatli,  white ;  outer  tail-feathers  white.  Male  with 
M  arlet  band  at  back  of  head,  which  in  the  female  is  black.  In  immature 
Itirils  the  crown  is  more  (jr  less  tinged  with  red,  or,  sometimes  with 
yellow.     Length  S,'2  to  9  inches. 

A'tj/.  In  ojjen  woodland,  pasture,  or  orchard  ;  a  cavity  in  a  dead 
trunk,  without  lining. 

Zfi,;;,'-*.     4-5;  white  and  glossy  ;  1.00  x  0.70. 

This  common  and  almost  flimiliar  species  is  a  resident 
in  most  parts  of  America,  from  Hudson   I>ay  to  Florida,  fre- 


452 


WUODl'ECKEKS. 


(jucntly  approaching  the  cottage  or  the  skirts  of  the  town  a 
well  as  the  forest.  It  is  likewise  much  attached  to  orchards 
an  active  borer  of  their  trunks,  and  an  eager  hunter  after  in 
sects  and  larvae  in  all  kinds  of  decayed  wood,  even  to  stump 
and  the  rails  of  the  fences.  In  autumn  it  also  feeds  on  berrie 
and  other  fruits.  In  the  month  of  May,  accompanied  by  hi 
mate,  the  male  seeks  out  the  seclusion  of  the  woods,  an( 
taking  possession  of  a  hollow  branch,  or  cutting  out  a  cavit 
anew,  he  forms  his  nest  in  a  deep  and  secure  cavern,  thoug 
sometimes  a  mere  stake  of  the  fence  answers  the  purpose.  I: 
the  Southern  States  these  birds  have  usually  two  broods  in  th 
season,  and  raise  them  both  in  the  same  nest,  which  is  nc 
infreciuently  at  no  great  distance  from  habitations.  Their  ca 
consists  in  a  shrill  and  rattling  whistle,  heartl  to  a  consid 
eral>le  distance.  They  also  give  out  a  single  querulous  note  c 
recognition  while  perambulating  the  trunks  for  food. 

The  hal)itat  of  true  villosus  is  now  considered  as  restricted  t 
the  middle  portion  of  tlie  Eastern  States.  At  the  North  it  i 
represented  by  D.  villosus  Icuconiclcts,  a  larger  variety  (lengt 
ID  to  II  inches),  and  at  the  Soutli  by  D  villosus  audubonii,  whic 
measures  but  8  to  S>2  inches  in  length. 


DOWXY   WOODPECKER. 

Drvobatf.s  puiu:.sci:ns. 

Thar.     Similar  to  /').  t/VIosus,  hut  smaller.     Above,  black  .ind  whij 
the  hack  with  long,  slender,  loose  hair-like  ("downy")  feathers;  beneafl 
white ;  outer   tail-feathers  barred.     Male  with  scarlet  band  at  back 
head,  which  in  the  female  is  black.     In  immature  birds  the  crown  is  nif 
or  less  tinged  with  red,  or,  sometimes,  with  yellow.     Length  6>^   to| 
inches. 

.Vrs/.  In  o]H'n  woodland,  pasture,  or  orchard ;  a  cavity  in  a  de 
trunk,  without  lining. 

£^%'s.    4-6;  white  and  glossy  ;  o.So  X  0.60. 

This  species,  the  smallest  of  American  Woodpeckers,  agrd 
almost  exactly  with  the  P.  7'illostis  in  its  colors  and  markinl 
It  is  likewise  resident  throughout  the  same  countries.     AbJ 


DOW'NY  WOODPECKER. 


453 


irts  of  the  town  as 
ached  to  orchards, 
rer  hunter  after  m- 
od,  even  to  stumps 
also  feeds  on  berries 
accompanied  \)y  his 
of  the   woods,  and 
cutting  out  a  cavity 
.cure  cavern,  though 
In 


illy  two  broods  in  the 
,,e  nest,  which  is  not 
ibitations. 
heard  to  a  cc 


onsid- 
ngk  querulous  note  of 

iks  for  food. 
.sKlered  as  restricted  to 
es.     At  the  North  it    s 
;  larger  variety  (length 
Imosus  auciubonii,  which 


:'KER. 


IKNS. 


yell 
fchard ;  a  cavity  in 


the  middle  of  May  also,  the  pair  begin  to  look  out  a  suitable 
deposit  for  their  eggs  and  young.  The  entrance  is  in  the  form 
of  a  perfect  circle,  and  left  only  just  large  enough  for  an  indi- 
vidual to  pass  in  and  out.  Hoth  sexes  labor  for  about  a  week 
at  this  task  with  indefatigable  diligence,  carrying  on  the  burrow 
in  some  orchard  tree,  in  two  different  tlirections,  to  the  dcjith 
of  1 6  to  20  inches  down;  and  to  prevent  suspicion  the  chips 
are  carried  out  and  strewn  at  a  distance.  The  male  occa- 
sionally feeds  his  mate  while  sitting ;  and  about  the  close  of 
June  the  young  are  observed  abroad,  climbing  uj)  the  tree  with 
considerable  address.  Sometimes  the  crafty  House  \Vren  in- 
terferes, and,  driving  the  industrious  tenants  from  their  hole, 
usurps  possession.  These  l)ir<ls  have  a  shrill  cackle  and  a  reit- 
erated call,  which  they  frequently  utter  while  engaged  in  quest 
of  their  prey.  In  the  autumn  they  feed  on  various  kinds  of 
berries  as  well  as  insects.  No  species  can  exceed  the  present 
ill  industry  and  perseverance.  While  thus  regularly  probing 
the  bark  of  the  tree  for  insects,  it  continues  so  much  engaged 
as  to  disregard  the  approaches  of  the  observer,  though  imme- 
diately under  the  tree.  These  perforations,  made  by  our  Sii/)- 
siickcrs,  —  as  the  present  and  Hairy  species  are  sometimes 
called,  —  are  carried  round  the  trunks  and  branches  of  the 
orchard  trees  in  regular  circles,  so  near  to  each  other  that, 
according  to  Wilson,  eight  or  ten  of  them  may  be  covereil  by 
a  dollar.  The  object  of  this  curious  piece  of  industry  is  not 
satisfactorily  ascertained  ;  but  whether  it  be  done  to  taste  the 
saji  of  the  tree,  or  to  dislodge  vermin,  it  is  certain  that  the 
|il  int  escapes  uninjured,  and  thrives  as  well  or  better  than 
thi>se  which  are  unperforated. 


.      Above,  black  ami  white 
downv  ")  feathers  ;bencat 

th  scarlet  band  at  back   of 

e  birds  the  crown  is  more       |  ]-,i^  diminutive  and  very  industrious  species  is  a  constant 

1  yellow.    Length  6>^  to  7  i,^],.,]);^.^,.^  of  the  fur  countries  up  to  the  58th  parallel,  seeking 

a  deadp^  f»)od  principally  on  the  maple,  elm,  and  ash,  and  north  of 

jlptitude  54  degrees,  where  the  range  of  these  trees  terminates, 

;0r  the  aspen  and  birch.     The  circles  of  round  holes  which  it 

W  odoeckers,  agrec>lliakes  with  so  much  regularity  round  the  trunks  of  living  trees 

•'        lors  and  marking^>|i-'  no  doubt  made  for  the  i)urpose  of  getting  at  the  sweet  sap 

countries.     Abouifiic  h   they  contain.     In   the    month    of   February,    1830,   1 


454 


WOODl'KCKKKS. 


observed  these  borers  busy  tappinj^  the  small  live  trunks  of 
several  wax-myrtles  (Afyriiu  ccnjiia)  \  and  these  perforations 
were  carried  down  into  the  allmrnmn,  or  sap-wood,  but  no 
farther:  no  insects  could  be  expected,  of  course,  in  such  situ- 
ations, and  at  this  season  very  few  could  be  obtained  anywiiere. 
On  examining  the  oo/ing  sap,  I  found  it  to  be  exceedingly 
saccharine,  but  in  some  instances  astringent  or  nearly  taste- 
less. To  a  bird  like  the  i)resent,  which  relishes  and  devours 
also  berries,  I  make  no  doubt  but  that  this  native  nectar  is 
sought  after  as  agreeable  and  nutritious  food,  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  Baltimore  iJird  collects  the  saccharine  secretion 
of  the  fruit  blossoms  ;  and  in  fact  I  have  observed  the  \\'ood- 
pecker  engaged  in  the  act  of  sii)ping  this  sweet  fluid,  which  so 
readily  supplies  it  on  all  occasions  with  a  temporary  substitute 
for  more  substantial  fare.  Sometimes,  however,  on  discovering 
insects  in  a  tree,  it  forgets  its  taste  for  the  sap,  and  in  ([uest 
of  its  i)rcy  occasionally  digs  deep  holes  into  the  trees  large 
enough  to  admit  its  whole  body. 

Tlie  Downy  Woodpecker  is  found  tliroughout  the  eastern  and 
northern  portions  of  North  America,  and  like  its  congener,  the 
Hairy,  is  a  resident,  ratlier  than  a  migratory  species,  breeding  usu- 
ally wherever  it  is  found.  There  is  no  such  difference  in  the  two 
birds  as  is  represented  by  the  names  "hairy"  and  "downy;"  the 
long  feathers  of  the  back  from  which  the  names  arc  derived  are 
exactly  similar.  The  differentiation  lies  in  the  size  of  the  birds 
and  in  some  markings  on  the  tail-leathers. 


THE  red-cockaim:d  woodpecker. 

l)uv()i!.vri:s  dorkams. 

Char.  Above,  black  and  white,  barred  transversely;  crown,  black: 
sides  of  head  with  white  patch,  bordered,  above,  by  red  stripe;  beneath, 
white,  sides  streaked  with  black.     Length  "jYz  to  Sl4  inches. 

Xcst.     In  pine  woods;  an  excavation  in  a  decayed  trunk  or  living  tree 
Ei;,i:;s.    4-6;  white,  with  but  little  gloss  ;  0.95  X  070. 

This  species,  remarkable  for  the  red  stripe  on  the  side  nil 
its  head,  was  discovered   by  Wilson    in    the    pine   woods  oil 


,in;ill  live  trunks  of 
il  these  perforations 
r  sap-wood,  but  no 
:ourse,  in  such  situ- 
obtained  anywhere. 
t  to  be  exceedingly 
ent  or  nearly  taste- 
■elishes  and  devours 
this  native  nectar  is 
food,  in   the    same 
saccharine  secretion 
observed  the  Wood- 
sweet  fluid,  which  so 
temporary  substitute 
wever,  on  discoveriuK 
he  sap,  and  in  ([uest 
into  the  trees  large 

ghout  the  eastern  and 
like   its  congener,  the 

'  species,  breeding  usu- 

difference  in  the  two 

"  and  "downy,"  the 

names  arc  derived  arc 

tlie  size  of  the  birds 


ARCTU:   TIIUr,i;-TUElJ   WXJODI'IXKKR. 


455 


ODPKCKER. 


msvcrsely;  cnnvn,  l^bck; 
c,  by  red  stripe;  bLMicaih, 
n  SH  inches. 

cavid  trunk  or  living  tree 
5  X  0.70. 
Stripe  on  the  side  ot 
H    the    pine   woods  of 


North  Carolina,  whence  it  occurs  to  the  coast  of  the  Mexican 
(lulf,  and  as  far  to  the  north  and  west  as  New  Jersey  and 
'I'ennessec.  It  is  a  very  active  and  noisy  species,  gliding  with 
alertness  along  the  tnmks  and  branches  of  trees,  principally 
those  of  oak  ;ind  pine.  At  almost  every  move  it  titters  a  short, 
shrill,  and  clear  note,  audible  ai  a  considerable  distance,  in 
the  breeding  seas(}n  its  call,  still  more  lively  and  petulant,  is 
reiterated  through  the  pine  forests,  where  it  now  chietly  dwells. 
These  birds  are  frecinently  seen  by  i)airs  in  the  company  of 
the  smaller  Woodpeckers  and  Ntithatches  hi  the  winter  sea- 
son, and  they  now  feed  by  choice  principally  upon  ants  and 
small  coleo])lera. 

In  Florida  tiiey  are  already  mated  in  the  month  of  January, 
and  prepare  their  burrows  in  the  following  month.  The  nest 
is  fre(iuently  in  a  decayed  trunk  20  to  30  feet  from  the 
ground.  In  the  winter  season,  and  in  cold  and  wet  weather, 
this  bird  is  in  the  habit  of  roosting  in  its  old  nests  or  in  the 
holes  of  decayed  trees,  ;ind  frecpiently  retreats  to  such  places 
when  wounded  or  pursued. 

The  habitat  of  this  species  as  at  present  determined  is  the  South- 
eastern .States,  inthidiiig  Nortli  Carolina  and  Tennessee,  and  the 
bird  also  occurs  sparingly  in  N'l'W  Jersey. 


ARCTIC   THRF.E-TOEO   WOODPECKER. 

BLACK-BACKKD   WOODPECKER. 
PiCdIDKS  .\K(  ricus. 

Char.  Only  three  toes.  Above,  black  ;  white  stripe  on  side  of  bead  ; 
outer  tail-fe.ithcrs  white  ;  beneath,  white  barred  with  black.  Adult  male 
with  square  i)atch  of  yellow  nu  the  crown,     l.tngth  o'i  to  10  inches. 

A'rsf.     In  a  deep  forest,  an  excavation  in  a  dead  tree. 

B.ir^'s.    4-6;  white  and  glossy ;  0.95  X  07-;. 

This  species  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  northern  regions  from 
Maine  to  the  fur  countries,  <lwelling  among  deep  forests  in 
mountainous  regions.  Its  voice  and  habits  are  indeed  pre- 
cisely similar  to  those  of  the  Spotted  \\'oodpeckers,  to  which  it 


45(3 


WOODPECKERS. 


is  closely  allied.  Its  food  consists  of  insects,  their  eggs  and 
larvae,  to  which  it  sometimes  adds,  according  to  the  season, 
seeds  and  berries.  Aiulubon  had  the  good  fortune  to  meet 
\\  ith  it  in  the  pine  forests  of  the  Pokono  Mountains  in  Penn- 
sylvania. It  is,  however,  sufficiently  commo^n  in  the  dreary 
wilds  around  Hudson  Bay  and  Severn  River.  It  is  remarkable 
that  a  third  species,  so  nearly  allied  to  the  present  as  to  have 
been  confounded  with  it  merely  as  a  variety,  is  found  to  inhabit 
the  woods  of  Ouiana.  In  this  (the  Piciis  tnulidatus  of  Vieillot) 
the  crown,  howeser,  is  red  instead  of  yellow ;  the  tarsi  are  also 
naked,  and  the  black  of  the  back  undulated  with  white. 

This  species  occurs  sparingly  in  winter  in  northern  New  Eng- 
land and  southern  Canada,  and  representatives  have  been  taken 
in  Massacluisetts  and  Connecticut.  Occasionally  one  is  met  in 
summer  in  northern  Maine  and  New  Brunswick. 


AMERICAN  THREE-TOED   WOODPECKER. 

B.\NDEU-IiACKEU    WOODPECKER. 
PiCOIDES   AMKRICAXUS. 

Char.  Onh-  three  toes.  Above,  black,  thickly  spotted  with  white 
about  the  head  and  neck;  back  barred  with  white;  beneath,  white; 
sides  barred  with  black.  Adult  male  with  yellow  patch  on  the  crown. 
Length  about  9  inches. 

A\'st.    In  a  deep  forest ;  an  excavation  in  a  dead  tree. 

E,i:;gs.     4-  .';  cream  white;  o.yo  X  0.70. 

According  to  Richardson,  this  bird  exists  as  a  permanent 
resident  in  all  the  sjiruce-forests  between  Lake  Superior  and 
the  .Arctic  Sea,  and  is  the  most  common  A\'oodpecker  north 
of  (Ireat  Slave  Lake.  It  resembles  P.  villosiis  in  its  habits, 
seeking  its  food,  however,  principally  on  decaying  trees  of  the 
])ine  tribe,  in  which  it  frequently  burrows  holes  large  enough 
to  bury  itself. 

Tliis  is  only  a  rare  winter  visitor  as  far  soutli  as  New  Brunswick, 
thouiih  it  has  been  taken  in  Massachusetts,  and  Dr.  .Merriani  has 
found  a  nest  in  the  .Vdirondacks 


:ts,  their  eggs  and 
ing  to  the  season, 
d  fortune  to  meet 
loinitains  in  Penn- 
iion  in  the  dreary 
It  is  remarkable 
present  as  to  have 
,  is  f(jund  to  inhabit 
^iditlatiis  oi  Vieillot) 
k' ;  the  tarsi  are  also 
I  with  white. 

northern  New  Eng- 
vcs  hiwc  been  taktMi 
onally  one  is  met  in 
ick. 


)ODrFXKER. 

CKIiK. 


•kly  spotted  with  white 
white;  beneath,  white; 
,w  patch  on  the  crown. 

ad  tree. 

cists  as  a  permanent 
Lake  Stipcrior  and 
n  Woodpecker  north 
villosiis  in  its  habits, 
decaying  trees  of  the 
s  holes  large  enough 

uth  as  New  Brunswick, 
and  Dr.  Merriam  has 


/v.  ' 
--  ^  Hi,      '  ' 

I.  .,■/  / 


RUBV-THROA'ITJ)    HUMMING    1!IRD. 
Trochilus  coluhris. 

Char.  Above,  metallic  j;recii ;  wings  and  tail  brownish  violet  or 
bronzy ;  chin  velvety  black  ;  throat  rich  ruby,  reflecting  various  hues 
from  brownish  black  to  bright  cr  son  ;  belly  whitish.  Female  and  young 
without  red  on  the  throat,  which  is  dull  gray;  tail-feathers  barred  with 
black  and  tipped  with  white.     Length  3  to  t,%  inches. 

Nest.  In  an  orchard  or  open  woodland  ;  placed  on  a  horizontal  branch 
or  in  a  crotch,  made  of  plant  down  firmly  felted  and  covered  exteriorly 
with  lichens. 

l\i;^s.     2-?;  white,  with  rosy  tint  when  fresh  ;  0.50X0.30. 

This  wonderfully  diminutive  and  brilliant  bird  is  the  only 
one  of  an  American  genus  of  more  than  a  hinidred  species, 
which  ventures  beyond  the  limit  of  tropical  climates.  Its 
approaches  towards  the  north  are  regulated  by  the  advances  of 
the  season.  Fed  on  the  honeyed  sweets  of  flowers,  it  is  an 
exclusive  attendant  on  the  varied  boimlies  of  Flora.  Ily  the 
loth  to  the  20th  of  Man  h,  il  is  ;ilready  seen  in  the  mild 
forests  of  Louisiana  and  the  warmer  maritime  districts  of 
(leorgia,  where  the  embowering  iind  tVagnmt  (ic/sriiii/iiii,  the 
twin-leaved  liignonia,  with  a  host  of  daily  expanding  tlowers, 
I'lvite  our  little  sylvan  guest  to  the  reireats  it  had  rehu  tantly 


458 


HUMMING   BIRDS. 


forsaken.  Desultory  in  its  movements,  roving  only  through 
the  region  of  blooming  sweets,  its  visits  to  the  Northern  States 
are  delayed  till  the  month  of  May.  Still  later,  as  if  deter- 
mined that  no  flower  shall  "  blush  unseen,  or  waste  its  sweet- 
ness on  the  desert  air,"  our  little  sylph,  on  wings  as  rapid  as 
the  wind,  at  once  launches  without  hesitation  into  the  flowery 
wilderness  of  the  north. 

'I'he  first  cares  of  the  little  busy  pair  are  now  bestowed  on 
their  expected  progeny.     This  instinct  alone  propelled  them 
from  their  hibernal  retreat  within  the  tropics  ;  strangers  amidst 
their  numerous  and  brilliant  tribe,  they  seek  only  a  transient 
asylum  in  the  milder  regions  of  their  race.     \\'ith  the  earliest 
dawn  of  the  northern  spring,  in  pairs,  as  it  were  with  the  celer- 
ity of   thought,   they   tlart  at  intervals    through   the  dividing 
space,  till  they  again  arrive  in  the  genial  and  more  happy  re- 
gions of  their  birth.     The  enraptured  male  is  now  assiduous 
in  attention  to  his  mate  ;  forgetful  of  selfish  wants,  he  feeds 
his  companion  with  nectared  sweets,  and  jealous  of  danger 
and  interruption  to  the  sole  comjianionof  his  delights,  he  often 
almost  seeks  a  quarrel  with  the  giant  birds  which  surround  him  : 
he  attacks  even  the  Kingbird,  and  drives  the  gliding  Martin 
to  the  retreat  of  his  box.     The  puny  nest  is  now  prepared  in 
the  long-accustomed  orchard  or  neighboring  forest.     It  is  con 
cealed  by  an  artful  imitation  of  the   mossy  branch  to  whic 
it  is  firmly  altached  and  incorjiorated.     lUuish-gray    lichens 
agglutinated  by  saliva  and  matched  with  surrounding  objects 
instinctively  form  the  deceiving  external  coat ;  j^ortions  of  the 
culling  architecture,  for  fiirther  security,  are  even  tied  dow 
to  the  supporting  station,    ^^'ithin  are  laid  copious  quantities  o 
the  ixq')])us  or  other  down  of  ])lants  ;  the  inner  layer  of  th 
exquisite  bod  is  finished  with  the  shortwood  of  the  buddin 
Platanits,  the  mullein,  or  the  soft  clothing  of  unfolding  fern 
stalks.    Incubation,  so  tedious  to  the  volatile  pair,  is  complete( 
in  the  short  space  of  ten  days,  and  in  the  warmer  States 
second   brood  is  raised.     When  the  nest  is  approached,  th 
parents  dart  around  the  intruder,  within  a  few  inches  of  h 
face  ;  and  the  female,  if  the  young  are  out,  often  resumes  he 


RUBV-TIIROATEI)   HUMMING   lilKD. 


459 


)ving  only  through 

he  Northern  States 
later,  as  if  ileter- 

or  waste  its  sweet- 
wings  as  rapid  as 

^on  into  the  flowery 

re  now  bestowed  on 
ane  propelled  them 
cs ;  strangers  amidst 
seek  only  a  transient 
With  the  earliest 
t  were  with  the  celer- 
;hrough  the  dividing 
and  more  happy  re 
lale  is  now  assitluou2 
elfish  wants,  he  feeds 
id  jealous  of  danger 
f  his  delights,  he  often 
s  which  surround  him  : 
es  the  gliding  Martin 
ist  is  now  prepared  in 
ring  forest.     It  is  con- 
ossy  branch  to  which 
lUuish-gray   lichens, 
surrounding  objects, 
coat ;  portions  of  the  I 
V.  are  even  tied  down 
,1  copious  quantities  of 
the  inner  layer  of  this 
■twood  of  the  Inulding 
ling  of  unfol.ling  fern- 
.Aile  pair,  is  completed 
n  the  warmer  States  a 
lest  is  approached,  the' 
in  a  few  inches  of  hi<  j 
out,  often  resumes  hei 


seat,  though  no  more  than  three  or  four  feet  from  the  observer. 
In  a  single  week  the  young  are  on  the  wing,  and  in  this  situa- 
tion still  continue  to  be  fed  with  their  nursing  sweets  by  the 
assiduous  parents. 

Creatures  of  such  delicacy  and  uncommon  circumstances, 
the  wondrous  sports  of  Nature,  everything  ajjpcars  provided 
for  the  security  of  their  existence ;  the  brood  are  introduced 
to  life  in  the  warmest  season  of  the  year  :  variation  of  tempera- 
ture beyond  a  certain  medium  would  prove  destructive  to 
these  exquisite  forms.  The  ardent  heats  of  America  have 
alone  afforiled  them  support ;  no  region  so  cool  as  the  United 
States  produces  a  set  of  feathered  beings  so  delicate  and 
tender ;  and,  consequently,  any  sutlden  extremes,  by  produ- 
cing chill  and  famine,  are  H^tal  to  our  Humming  Birds.  In  the 
remarkably  wet  summer  of  1831  very  few  of  the  young  were 
raised  in  New  England.  In  other  seasons  they  comparatively 
swarm,  and  the  mmierous  and  almost  gregarious  young  are 
then  seen,  till  the  close  of  September,  eagerly  engaged  in  sip- 
ping the  nectar  from  various  showy  and  tuinilar  flowers,  partic- 
ularly those  of  the  trumpet  liignonia  and  wild  balsam,  with 
many  other  conspicuous  productions  of  the  fieUls  and  gardens. 
Sometimes  they  may  also  be  seen  collecting  dimunitive  in- 
sects, or  juices  from  the  tender  shoots  of  the  pine-tree.  While 
thus  engaged  in  strife  and  employment,  the  scene  is  'peculiarly 
amusing.  Approaching  a  flower,  and  vibrating  on  the  wing 
before  it,  with  the  rapidity  of  lightning  the  long,  cleft,  and 
tubular  tongue  is  exerted  to  pimip  out  the  sweets,  while  the 
buzzing  or  humming  of  the  wings  reminds  us  of  the  approach 
of  some  larger  sphinx  or  droning  bee.  No  other  sound  or 
song  is  uttered,  exce]it  occasionally  a  slender  chirp  while  flit- 
ting from  a  flower,  until  some  rival  bird  too  nearly  a])])roaches 
the  same  ))lant ;  a  quick,  faint,  and  jK'tulant  squeak  is  then 
uttered,  as  the  little  glowing  antagonists  glide  up  in  swift  and 
angry  gyrations  into  the  air.  The  action  at  the  same  time  is  so 
sudden,  and  the  flight  so  rapid,  tliat  the  whole  are  only  traced 
for  an  instant,  like  a  gray  line  in  the  air.  Sometimes,  williout 
any  apixirent  i)rovocation,  the  little  pugnacious  vixen  will,  for 


* 


460 


HUMMING  BIRDS. 


more  amusement,  pursue  larger  birds,  such  as  the  Yellow  Bird 
and  Sparrows.  To  man  they  show  but  little  either  of  fear  or 
aversion,  often  quietly  feeding  on  their  favorite  flowers  when 
HO  nearly  approached  as  to  be  caught.  They  likewise  fre- 
([uently  enter  the  green  houses  and  windows  of  dwellings 
where  flowers  are  kept  in  sight,  .\fter  feeding  for  a  time,  the 
individual  settles  on  some  small  ami  often  naked  bough  or 
slender  twig,  and  dresses  its  feathers  with  great  composure, 
particularly  i)reening  and  clearing  the  plumes  of  the  wing. 

'I'he  old  antl  young  are  soon  reconciled  to  confinement.  In 
an  hour  after  the  loss  of  liberty  the  cheerful  little  captive  will 
often  come  and  suck  diluted  honey,  or  sugar  and  water,  from 
the  flowers  held  out  to  it ;  and  in  a  few  hours  more  it  becomes 
tame  enough  to  sij)  its  flivorite  beverage  from  a  saucer,  in  the 
interval  flying  backwards  and  forwards  in  the  room  for  mere 
exercise,  and  then  resting  on  some  neighboring  elevated  object. 
In  dark  or  rainy  weather  it  seems  to  i)ass  the  time  chiefly 
dozing  on  the  perch.  It  is  also  soon  so  f:imiliar  as  to  come  to 
the  hand  that  feeds  it.  In  cold  nights,  or  at  the  approach  of 
frost,  the  pulsation  of  this  little  dweller  in  the  sunbeam  be- 
comes nearly  as  low  as  in  the  torpid  state  of  the  dormouse  ; 
but  on  applying  warmth,  the  almost  stagnant  circulation 
revives,  and  slowly  increases  to  the  usual  state. 

Near  the  Atlantic  this  frail  creature  nusts  regularly  as  far  north 
as  the  Laurcntian  hills  of  Quebec.  It  is  an  abundant  summer  res- 
ident of  tlie  Maritime  Provinces,  but  occurs  in  soutliern  Ontario 
as  a  migrant  only. 

The  fact  that  insects  form  a  staple  diet  of  these  diminutive  birds 
has  been  satisfactorily  proved,  though  formerly  they  were  sup- 
posed to  feed  entirely  on  honey.  Honey  doubtless  forms  a  part 
of  their  food,  and  they  also  drink  freely  of  tiie  sweet  sap  which  tlie 
Woodpeckers  draw  from  the  maple  and  l)irch. 

Another  mistake  regarding  the  Mumming  Birds,  —  that  they 
never  aliglit  while  feeding,  —  has  been  rectified  by  several  trust- 
wortliv  observers.  The  birds  have  been  seen  to  alight  on  tlie 
leaves  of  the  trumpet-flower  while  gathering  lionev,  and  also  to 
rest  on  the  tapped  trees  while  they  leisurely  drank  of  the  flowing 
sap. 

The  young  birds  are  fed  by  regurgitation. 


;  the  Yellow  Bird 
either  of  fear  or 
ite  flowers  when 
hey  likewise  fre- 
)ws  of  dwellings 
ig  for  a  time,  the 
naked  bough  or 
great  composure, 
of  the  wing, 
conhnement.     In 

little  captive  will 
r  antl  water,  from 
i  more  it  becomes 
n  a  saucer,  in  the 
he  room  for  mere 
ig  elevated  object. 

the  time  chiefly 
iliar  as  to  come  to 
at  the  approach  of 

the  sunbeam  be- 
of  the  dormouse  ; 
ignant   circulation 

itate. 

;ularly  as  far  north 
Lindant  summer  rcs- 
li  southoni  Ontario 

Ise  diminutive  birds 
riy  tliey  were  sup- 
btloss  forms  a  part 
Iwcet  sap  whicli  tlic 

Ipirds,  —  that  tlicy 
Id  by  several  trust- 
\\  to  alight  on  the 
)ionev,  and  also  to 
(rank  of  the  tlowing 


BELTED   KINGFISHER. 

CeRYLE   AI,CY(1N. 

Char.  Above,  slaty  blue;  head  with  long  crest;  beneath,  white. 
Male  with  blue  band  across  breast.  Female  and  youni;  with  breast-band 
and  sides  of  Ixllv  pale  chestnut.     I>cn,c;th  I2  to  13  inches. 

A'c's/.  An  excavation  in  a  sandbank,  —  usually  by  the  side  of  a  stream  ; 
lined  with  j.;rass  and  feathers. 

£i,''j,v.     6-8;  white  and  glossy  ;  I-.IS  X  1.05. 

This  wild  and  grotesque-looking  feathered  angler  is  a  well- 
known  inhabitant  of  the  borders  of  fresh  waters  from  the  re- 
mote fur  countries  in  the  67th  parallel  to  the  trojMcs.  its 
delight  is  to  dwell  amidst  the  most  sequestered  scenes  of 
imcultivated  nature,  by  the  borders  of  running  rivulets,  near 
the  roar  of  the  waterfall,  or  amidst  the  mountain  streamlets 
which  abound  with  the  small  fish  and  insects  that  constitute 
its  accustomed  fare.  Mill-dams  and  the  shelving  and  fri;d)le 
banks  of  watercourses,  suited  for  the  sylvan  retreat  of  its 
brood,  have  also  peculiar  and  necessary  attractions  for  our  re- 
tiring  Kingfisher.     By  the  broken,  bushy,  or  rocky  banks  of 


mmmm 


462 


KINGFISHERS, 


its  solitary  and  aquatic  retreat,  tliis  bird  may  often  be  seen 
j)erched  on  some  dead  and  projecting  l)ranch,  scrutinizing  the 
waters  for  its  expected  prey.  If  unsuccessful,  it  (|uickly  courses 
the  meanders  of  the  streams  or  borders  of  ponds  just  above 
their  surface,  and  occasionally  hovers  for  an  instant,  with  raj)- 
idly  moving  wings,  over  the  spot  where  it  perceives  the  gliding 
quarry;  in  the  next  instant,  descending  with  a  fiuick  s])iral 
swee]),  a  fish  is  seized  from  the  timid  fry,  with  which  it  returns 
to  its  jjost  ami  swallows  in  an  instant.  When  startled  from 
the  perch,  on  which  it  spends  many  vacant  hours  digesting  its 
prey,  it  utters  commonly  a  loud,  harsh,  and  grating  cry,  very 
similar  to  the  interrupted  creakings  of  a  watchman's  rattle,  and 
almost,  as  it  were,  the  vocal  counterpart  to  the  watery  tumult 
amidst  which  it  usually  resides. 

The  nest  —  a  work  of  much  labor — is  now  burrowed  in  some 
dry  and  sandy  or  more  tenacious  bank  of  earth,  situated  be- 
yond the  reach  of  inundation.  At  this  task  both  the  i)arties 
join  with  bill  and  claws,  until  they  have  horizontally  perlbrated 
the  bank  to  the  dei)th  of  5  or  6  feet.  \\'ith  necessary  precau- 
tion, the  entrance  is  only  left  sufficient  for  the  access  of  a 
single  bird.  The  extremity,  however,  is  rounded  like  an  oven, 
so  as  to  allow  the  individuals  and  their  brood  a  sufficiency  of 
room.  This  im]iortant  labor  is  indeed  prospective,  as  the  same 
hole  is  emi)loyed  for  a  nest  and  roost  for  many  succeeding 
years.  Here  the  eggs  are  deposited.  Incubation,  in  which 
both  parents  engage,  continues  for  sixteen  days ;  and  they 
exhibit  great  solicitude  for  the  safety  of  their  brood.  The 
mother,  simulating  lameness,  sometimes  dro])s  on  the  water, 
fluttering  as  if  wounded,  and  unable  to  rise  from  the  stream. 
The  male  also,  perched  on  the  nearest  bough,  or  edge  of  the 
projecting  bank,  jerks  his  tail,  elevates  his  crest,  and  passing  to 
and  fro  before  the  intruder,  raises  his  angry  and  vehement 
rattle  of  complaint  (Audubon).  At  the  commencement  of 
winter,  the  frost  obliges  our  humble  Fisher  to  seek  more  open 
streams,  and  even  the  vicinity  of  the  sea ;  but  it  is  seen  to 
return  to  Pennsylvania  by  the  commencement  of  April. 


may  often  be  seen 
ich,  scrutinizing  the 
il,  it  (luickly  courses 
if  ponds  just  above 
n  instant,  with  raj)- 
)ereeives  the  gliding 
with  a  (luick  si)iral 
vith  which  it  returns 
^\lien  startled  from 
t  hours  digesting  its 
nd  grating  cry,  very 
atchman's  rattle,  and 
to  the  watery  tumult 

ow  burrowed  in  some 
if  earth,  situated  be- 
:ask  both  the  parties 
orizontally  perforated 
ith  necessary  precau- 
for  the  access  of  a 
•ounded  like  an  oven, 
jrood  a  sufficiency  of 
ispective,  as  the  same 
for   many  succeeding 
Incubation,  in  which 
een  days;    and  they 
f  their  brood.     The 
drojis  on  the  water, 
rise  from  the  stream. 
)Ugh,  or  edge  of  the 
crest,  and  passing  to 
angry  and  vehement 
e  commencement  ot 
LT  to  seek  more  open 
ea;  but  it  is  seen  to 
ment  of  April. 


J 


CHIMNKV    SWIFT. 

CHIM.NEV    SWALLOW. 
CH.i;ii:ii.\    PELAGKJA. 

Char.  General  color  sooty  brown,  paler  on  the  throat  and  breast, 
tinged  with  gnen  above.     Length  about  5 '4  inches. 

A'c.f/.  Usually  in  a  chimney,  sDnietinies  in  a  lioUow  tree  or  a  barn ; 
made  of  twigs  cemented  wiili  saliva. 

.£^V.v.r.     4-5;  white;  0.70  X  0.50. 

This  singular  bird,  after  passing  the  winter  in  trojjical  .\mer- 
ica,  arrives  in  the  Middle  and  Northern  States  late  in  .April  or 
early  in  May.  Its  migrations  extend  at  least  to  the  sources 
of  the  Mississippi,  where  it  was  obser\^ed  by  Mr.  Say.  More 
social  than  the  foreign  species,  which  frequents  njcks  and  ruins, 
our  Swift  takes  advantage  of  unoccupied  and  lofty  chimneys, 
the  original  roost  and  nesting  situation  being  tall,  gigantic 
hollow  trees  such  as  the  elm  and  biutonwood  {P/a fauns). 
The  nest  is  formed  of  slender  twigs  neatly  interlaced,  some- 
what like  a  basket,  and  ('onne<  ted  sufficiently  together  liy  a 
copious  quantity  of  adhesive  gum  or  mucilage  secreted  by  the 
stomach  of  the  curious  architect.  This  rude  cradle  of  the 
young  is  small  and  shallow,  and  attached  at  the  sides  to 
the  wall  of  some  chimney  or  the  inner  surface   of  a  holh)w 


464 


SWIFTS. 


tree ;  it  is  wholly  destitute  of  lining.  They  have  commonly 
two  broods  in  the  season.  So  assiduous  are  the  parents  that 
they  feetl  the  young  through  the  greater  part  of  the  night ; 
their  habits,  however,  are  nearly  nocturnal,  as  they  fly  abroad 
most  at  and  before  sunrise,  and  in  the  twilight  of  evening. 
The  noise  which  they  make  while  passing  up  and  down  the 
chimney  resembles  almost  the  rumbling  of  distant  thunder. 
When  the  nests  get  loosened  by  rains  so  as  to  fliU  down,  the 
young,  though  blind,  find  means  to  escape,  by  creeping  up  and 
clinging  to  the  sides  uf  the  chimney  walls;  in  this  situation 
they  continue  to  be  fetl  for  a  week  or  more.  Soon  tired  of 
their  hard  cradle,  they  generally  leave  it  long  before  they  are 
capable  of  flying. 

On  their  first  arrival,  and  for  a  considerable  time  after,  the 
males,  particularly,  associate  to  roost  in  a  general  resort.  This 
situation,  in  the  remote  and  unsettled  parts  of  the  country,  is 
usually  a  large  hollow  tree,  open  at  top.  These  well-known 
S-n'o/loio  irccx  are  ignorantly  supposed  to  be  the  winter  quar- 
ters of  the  species,  where,  in  heaps,  they  doze  away  the  cold 
season  in  a  state  of  torpidity;  but  no  proof  of  the  fact  is  ever 
adduced.  The  length  of  time  such  trees  have  been  resorted 
to  by  particular  flocks  may  be  conceived,  perhaps,  by  the 
account  of  a  hollow  tree  of  this  kind  described  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Harris  in  his  Journal.  The  Plataniis  alluded  to,  grew  in  the 
upper  ]iart  of  Waterford,  in  Ohio,  two  miles  from  the  Muskin- 
gum, and  its  hollow  trunk,  now  fallen,  of  the  diameter  of  53^ 
feet,  and  for  nearly  1 5  feet  upwards,  contained  an  entire  mass 
of  decayed  Swallow  feathers,  mixed  with  brownish  dust  and 
the  exuvios  of  insects.  In  inland  towns  these  birds  have  been 
known  to  make  their  general  roost  in  the  chimney  of  the 
court-house.  Before  descending,  they  fly  in  large  flocks,  mak- 
ing many  ample  and  circuitous  sweeps  in  the  air ;  and  as  the 
point  of  the  vortex  falls,  individuals  drop  into  the  chimney 
by  degrees,  until  the  whole  have  descended,  which  generally 
takes  place  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening.  They  all,  however, 
disappear  about  the  first  week  in  August.  Like  the  rest  of  the 
tribe,  the  Chimney  Swift  flies  very  quick,  and  with  but  slight 


ley  have  commonly 
are  the  parents  that 

part  of  the  night ; 
1,  as  they  fly  abroad 
twilight  of  evening. 
[T  up  and  down  the 

of  distant  thunder, 
as  to  iaW  down,  the 
,  by  creeping  up  and 
Us;  in  this  situation 
nore.  Soon  tired  of 
long  before  they  are 

crable  time  after,  the 
general  resort.     This 
arts  of  the  country,  is 
These  well-known 
,  be  the  winter  quar- 
y  doze  away  the  cold 
of  of  the  fact  is  ever 
have  been  resorted 
ed,  perhaps,  by  the 
ribed  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
uded  to,  grew  in  the 
es  from  the  Muskin- 
the  diameter  of  5^2 
ained  an  entire  mass 
brownish  dust  and 
these  birds  have  been 
the  chimney  of  the 
in  large  flocks,  mak- 
1  the  air ;  and  as  the 
,p  into  the  chimney 
juled,  which  generally 
They  all,  however, 
Like  the  rest  of  the 
and  with  but  slight 


CIIUCK-WILL  S-\VII)()\V 


465 


vibrations  of  its  wings,  appearing  as  it  were  to  swim  in  the  air 
in  witlening  circles,  shooting  backwards  and  forwards  through 
the  ambient  sjxice  at  great  elevations,  and  yet  scarcely  moving 
its  wings.  Now  and  then  it  is  heard  to  utter,  in  a  hurried 
manner,  a  sound  like  A//  /s//>  /s//>  /str  /str.  1*  is  never  seen  to 
alight  but  in  hollow  trees  or  chimneys,  and  api)ears  always 
most  gay  and  active  in  wet  and  gloomy  weather. 

Near  the  Atlantic  Ijordcr  this  species  is  found  north  to  jo^,  but 
in  the  West  it  ranges  still  farther  northward. 


C  H  L'  C"  K  -  W  I  L  L '  S-  \V  1 1)  O  W. 

An iROSicBius  carolim:nsi>. 

Char.  Gai)C  extremely  wide,  the  rictal  hiistles  with  lateral  filaments. 
General  color  reddish  l)i()wn  mottled  with  black,  white,  and  tawny  :  thiuat 
with  collar  of  pale  tawny,  terminal  thirtl  of  outer  tail-feathers  white  or 
huffy;  under  parts  tawny  white.     Length  11  to  12  iriches. 

.\Vj7.  In  open  woods  or  dense  tliicket.  No  attempt  is  made  at  build- 
mg  a  receptacle  for  the  eggs,  which  are  laid  on  the  bare  ground  or  upon 
fallen  leaves. 

^i.'^i.'-.r.  2;  white  or  l)uffish,  marked  with  brown  and  lavender;  1.40 
X  1. 00. 

The  Carolina  Goatsucker  is  seldom  seen  to  the  north  of 
\'irginia,  though  in  the  interior  its  migrations  extend  u|)  the 
shores  of  the  Mississi])pi  to  the  3Sth  degree.  After  wintering 
in  some  part  of  the  tropical  continent  of  America,  it  arrives  in 
(leorgia  and  Louisiana  about  the  middle  of  March,  and  in  Vir- 
L,'inia  early  in  April.  Like  the  following  species,  it  commences 
its  singular  serenade  of  \'/i//iA'-'7l'///\\--7C'u/o7l'  in  the  evening 
soon  after  sunset,  and  continues  it  with  short  interruptions  for 
several  hours.  Towards  morning  the  note  is  also  renewed 
until  the  o])ening  dawn.  In  the  day.  like  some  wandering 
spirit,  it  retires  to  secrecy  and  silence,  as  if  the  whole  had  only 
lieen  a  disturbed  dream.  In  a  still  evening  this  singular  call 
may  be  heanl  for  half  a  niile,  its  tones  being  slower,  louder, 
ind  more  full  than  those  of  the  Whip-poor-will.  The  species 
is  ]xarticularly  numerous  in  the  vast  forests  of  the  Mississi])pi, 

vol,.  I.  —  -lo 


466 


GUATSUCKEUS. 


where  ihruughuul  tlic  evening  its  echoing  notes  are  heard  it 
the  solitary  glens  and  from  the  surrounding  and  silent  hills 
becoming  ahnost  incessant  during  the  shining  of  the  moon 
and  at  the  boding  sound  of  its  elfin  voice,  when  familiar  anc 
strongly  reiterated,  the  thoughtful,  superstitious  savage  become 
sad  and  pensive.     Its  flight  is  low,  and  it  skims  only  a  few  feet 
ab(n-e  the  surface  of  tiie  ground,  freipiently  settling  on  logs 
and  fences,  whence  it  often  sweeps  around  in  pursuit  of  flying 
moths  and  insects,  which  constitute  its  food.     Sometimes  these 
birds  are  seen  sailing  near  the  ground,  and  occasionally  descen( 
to  pi(  k  uj)  a  beetle,  or  flutter  lightly  around  the  tnmk  (;f  a  tree 
in  'piest  of  some  insect  crawling  upon  the  bark.     In  rainy  and 
gloomy  weather  they  remain  silent  in  the  hollow  log  which 
affords  them  and  the  bats  a  common  roost  and  refuge  by  day. 
When   discovered   in  this   critical   situation,  and  without    the 
means  of  escape,  they  ruffle  up  their   feathers,  spread  ojien 
their  enormous  months,  and  utter  a  murmur  almost  like  the 
hissing  of  a  snake,  thus  endeavoring,  apparently,  to  intimidate 
their  enemy  when  cut  off  from  the  means  of  escape. 

'I'his  species  also  lays  its  eggs,  two  in  numl)er,  merely  on  the 
ground,  and  usually  in  the  woods;  if  they  be  handled,  or  even 
the  young,  the  ])arents,  susi)icious  of  danger,  remove  them  to 
some  other  place.  As  early  as  the  middle  of  August,  accord- 
ing to  Audubon,  these  birds  retire  from  the  I'nited  States ; 
though  some  winter  in  the  central  parts  of  l^ast  Florida. 

The  general  habitat  of  this  species  is  the  South  Atlantic  and 
(iiilf  States  and  the  lower  Mississippi  valley.  The  bird  ranges  to 
North  Carolina,  and  Mr.  Ridgeway  reports  it  not  uncommon  in 
southern  Illinois. 


T  notes  arc  luanl  in 
ling  and  silent  hills, 
lining  of  the  moon  ; 
e,  when  familiar  and 
tious  savage  becomes 
skims  only  a  few  feet 
ntly  settling  on  logs 
1  in  pursuit  of  flying 
id.     Sometimes  these 

occasionally  descend 
id  the  trunk  of  a  tree 

bark.  In  rainy  and 
he  hollow  log  which 
ist  and  refuge  by  day. 
on,  and  without  the 
eathers,  spread  open 
rmur  almost  like  the 
arently,  to  intimidate 

of  escape. 

umber,  merely  on  the 
'  be  handled,  or  even 

ger,  remove  them  to 
|llc  of  August,  accord- 

1  the   United  States  ; 

f  I'^ast  Florida. 

le  South  Atlantic  and 
Tho  bird  ranges  to 
it  not  uncommon  in 


WIIIl'-l'ook-WII.L.  4^.7 

WHIP-I'OOR-WILL. 

.•\NrR()SI( ).MUS   V( )CIFi:kL'.S. 

CilAK.  (lapc  extremely  wide;  rietal  bristles  witlmut  lateral  filaments, 
(iciiural  <:(jlor  dull  gray  brown,  nintikd  with  black,  white,  and  tawny; 
throat  with  cellar  nf  white  or  tawny;  ouiur  tail-li  ath(.r>  partly  while; 
untler  parts  j;iay  nnntleil  with  black,     l-ength  y.'j  to  10  inches. 

Xi'st.  In  dciisc  woods  or  shady  dells;  eggs  laid  on  the  ground  m 
amid  dry  leaves 

/;';:,V>.     2;  white  or  bufify  marked  brown  and  lavender ;  1.12  X  0.S5. 

This  remarkable  and  well-known  nocturnal  bird  arrives  in 
the  Southern  States  in  .March,  and  in  the  .Middle  States  about 
the  close  of  .April  or  the  beginning  of  .May.  and  proceeds  in 
its  vernal  migrations  along  the  .Atlantic  States  to  the  centre 
of  Massachusetts,  being  seldom  seen  beyond  the  latitude  of 
4,^*^ ;  and  yet  in  the  interior  of  the  continent,  according  to 
\'ieillot,  it  continues  as  far  as  Hudson  Hay,  and  was  heard,  as 
usual,  by  Mr.  Say  at  Pembino,  in  the  high  latitude  of  49*^.  In 
all  this  vast  intermediate  spare,  as  far  south  as  Natchez  on  the 
Mississippi,  and  the  interior  of  .Arkansas,  these  birds  familiarly 
breed  and  take  up  their  tem])orary  residenr'c.  Some  also  pass 
the  winter  in  the  interior  of  I'^ast  IHorida,  according  to  .Audu- 
!)on.  In  the  eastern  part  of  Massachusetts,  however,  they  are 
uncommon,  and  always  affect  sheltered,  wild,  and  hilly  situa- 
tions, for  which  they  have  in  general  a  i)reference.  .\])out 
th*^;  same  time  that  the  sweetly  echoing  voice  of  the  Cuckoo  is 
first  heard  in  the  north  of  Murope,  issuing  from  the  leafy 
groves  as  the  sure  harbinger  of  the  flowery  month  of  May, 
arrives  amongst  us,  in  the  shades  of  night,  the  mysterious 
\\'hip-poor-7i<ill.  The  well-known  saddening  sound  is  first 
only  heard  in  the  distant  forest,  re-echoing  from  the  lonely  glen 
or  rocky  cliff;  at  length  the  oft-told  solitary  tale  is  uttered  from 
the  fence  of  the  adjoining  field  or  garden,  and  sometimes  tiie 
slumbering  inmates  of  the  cottage  are  serenaded  from  the  low 
roof  or  from  some  distant  shed.  Superstition,  gathering  terror 
from  every  extraordinary  feature  of  nature,  has  not  suffered 
this  harmless  nocturnal  babbler  to  escape  suspicion,  and  his 


468 


(iUATMCKKkS. 


familiar  apijruaches  arc  .suinctiincs   ilrcailctl  as  an   omen   of 
ini?>ri)rlimc. 

In  the  lower  part  of  the  State  of  Delaware,  I  have  found 
these  birds  troublenomely  abundant  in  the  breeding  seascjn,  su 
that  the  reiterated  echoes  of  'wliip-' whip-poo r-K<ill,  ''whip-pvri- 
loill,  issuing  from  se\eral  birds  at  the  same  time,  occasioned 
such  a  confuted  vociferation  as  at  first  to  banish  sleep.  'I'his 
call,  except  in  moonlight  nights,  is  continued  usually  till  mid- 
night, wiien  they  cease  until  again  aroused,  for  a  while,  at  the 
commencement  of  twilight.  The  first  and  last  syllables  of 
this  brief  ditty  receive  the  strongest  emphasis,  and  now  and 
then  a  sort  of  guttural  cinch  is  heard  between  the  repetitions  ; 
but  the  whole  phrase  is  uttered  in  little  more  than  a  second 
of  time. 

Although  our  Whi])-poor-\vill  seems  to  sjjcak  out  in  such 
plain  I'lnglish,  to  the  ears  of  the  aboriginal  Delaware  its  call  was 
ic'Cioalis,  though  this  was  probably  some  favorite  jjhrase  or 
interi)retati()n,  which  served  it  for  a  name.  'I'he  Whip-poor- 
will,  when  engaged  in  these  nocturnal  rambles,  is  seen  to  ily 
within  a  few  feet  of  the  surface  in  (juest  of  moths  and  other 
insects,  fretiuently,  where  abundant,  alighting  around  the  house. 
During  the  day  the  birds  retire  into  the  darkest  woods,  usually 
on  high  ground,  where  they  pass  the  time  in  silence  and 
repose,  the  weakness  of  their  sight  by  day  comi)elling  them 
to  avoid  the  glare  of   the   light. 

The  female  commences  laying  about  the  second  week  in 
May  in  the  Middle  States,  considerably  later  in  Massachusetts  ; 
she  is  at  no  jiains  to  form  a  nest,  though  she  selects  for  her 
deposit  some  unfreciuented  ])art  of  the  forest  near  a  pile  of 
brush,  a  heap  of  leaves,  or  the  low  shelving  of  a  hollow  rock, 
and  always  in  a  dry  situation  ;  here  she  lays  two  eggs,  without 
any  a])])earance  of  an  artificial  bed.  'I'his  deficiency  of  nest  is 
amply  made  up  by  the  provision  of  nature,  for,  like  Partridges, 
the  young  are  soon  able  to  run  about  after  their  parents  ;  and 
until  the  growth  of  their  feathers  they  seem  such  shapeless 
lum])s  of  clay-colored  down  that  it  becomes  nearly  im])ossible 
to  distinguish  them  from  the  ground  on  which  they  rejiose. 


cl   us  an   oiucn   of 

Vixxc,  1  have  found 
)rcctlin^  season,  so 
vr-7>.'i7/,  'a'////-/c/v- 
c  time,  occasionctl 
)anish  sleep.  'I'liis 
.■(1  usually  till  ini<l- 
for  a  while,  at  the 
(1  last  syllables  of 
lasis,  and  now  and 
en  the  repetitions  ; 
iiore  than  a  second 

speak  out   in    ^ucli 
:)elaware  its  call  was 

favorite  i)hrase  or 
;.  'I'he  Whip-poor- 
nbles,  is  seen  to  tly 
1  of  moths  anil  other 
around  the  house. 

;est  woods,  usually 
me  in  silence  and 
IV  comi)elling  them 

le   second   week  in 
in  Massachusetts  ; 
she  selects  for  her 
rest  near  a   pile  of 
('  oi  a  hollow  rock, 
ys  tw^t)  eggs,  without 
deficiency  of  nest  is 
for,  like  Partridges, 
their  parents  ;  and 
^em  such  shapeless 
s  nearly  im])0ssible 
which  they  repose. 


NVIIII'-l'ooK-wii.i, 


469 


Were  a  nest  present  in  the  exposed  jilaces  where  we  fiml  the 
young,  none  would  escape  detection,  i'he  mother  also,  f,:  Ii- 
ful  to  her  charge,  deceives  the  i)assenger  by  prostrating  herself 
along  the  ground  with  beating  wings,  as  if  in  her  dying  agony, 
"'le  activity  of  the  young  ami  old  in  walking,  and  the  ab^^encc 
.)\  a  nest,  widely  distinguishes  these  birds  from  the  Swallows, 
with  which  they  are  associated.  A  young  tledged  bird  of  this 
species,  presenteil  to  me,  ran  about  with  great  celerity,  but 
refused  to  eat,  and  kept  continually  calling  out  at  short  inter- 
vals pe-u^h  in  a  low,  mournful  note. 

After  the  period  of  incubation,  or  about  the  middle  of  Jime, 
the  vociferations  of  the  males  cease,  or  are  but  rarel)'  given. 
Towards  the  close  of  summer,  previously  to  their  dei)arture, 
they  are  again  occasionally  heard,  but  their  note  is  now  languid 
anil  seldom  uttered;  and  early  in  September  they  leave  us  for 
the  more  genial  climate  of  trojjical  .America,  being  there  foiuul 
giving  their  usual  lively  cry  in  the  wilds  of  Cayenne  and 
emerara.  They  enter  the  United  States  early  in  March,  but 
some  weeks  probably  in  attaining  their  utmost  northern 
umit. 

Their  f(K)d  appears  to  be  large  moths,  beetles,  grasshoppers, 
.ints,  and  such  insects  as  frequent  the  bark  of  decaying  timber. 
Sometimes,  in  the  dusk,  they  will  skim  within  a  fi'w  feet  of  a 
person,  making  a  low  chatter  as  they  pass.  'I'hey  also,  in  com- 
mon with  other  species,  flutter  occasionally  around  the  domes- 
tic cattle  to  catch  any  insects  which  approach  or  rest  upon 
them ;  and  hence  the  mistaken  notion  of  their  sucking  goats, 
while  they  only  cleared  them  of  molesting  vermin. 

The  Whip-poor-will  is  a  common  summer  resident  throughout 
\ow  England,  and  is  m^t  iincomnion  in  llu'  M.u-itime  I'rovinccs.  It 
is  common  also  in  Ontario,  and  Dr.  RohcMt  I>cll  reports  finding  it 
ill  the  southern  parts  of  the  Hudson  Hay  region. 


iHHHP 


Nl(;HrHA\\K. 

GOATSUCKER.     liL'l.l.    1!.\  T. 
("iKiKDI'.ll.l'.S    MKCIMANUS. 

CiiAR.  Ciajic  wide  ;  l)ill  extremely  small ;  no  riclal  bristles.  Above, 
(lull  black  mottled  with  brown  ami  ij;ray  ;  wings  brown,  a  patch  of  white 
on  five  outer  primaries  ;  tail  dusky,  with  bars  of  gray  and  a  jiatch  of 
white  near  the  extremity  ;  lower  parts  reddish  while  with  bars  of  brown  ; 
thmat  with  patch  of  while.      Length  about  9'j  inches. 

AV.'A  Usually  in  open  woods  ;  the  eggs  generally  laid  iii)on  a  rock  or 
on  the  turf,  —  sometin>.uS  they  arc  laid  on  a  gravel  mof  in  a  city. 

/i"f,y.r.  2  ;  dull  white  or  buff,  thickly  mottled  with  brown,  slate,  and 
lilac;  1.25  X  0.S5. 

Towards  the  Jose  of  April  the  Nighthawks  arrive  in  the 
Middle  States,  and  early  in  May  they  are  first  seen  near  the 
sea-coast  of  Massachusetts,  which  at  all  times  ajjpears  to  be  a 
favorite  resort.  In  the  interior  of  the  continent  they  penetrate 
as  far  as  the  sources  of  the  Mississippi,  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
and  the  Territory  of  Oregon  ;  they  are  likewise  observed 
aroimd  the  dreary  coasts  of  Hmlson  Hay  and  the  remotest 
.Arctic  islands,  breeding  in  the  whole  intermediate  region  to 
the  more  temperate  and  elevated  ])arts  of  (leorgia.  'I'hey  arc 
now  commonly  seen  towards  evening,  in  )airs,  sailing  round  in 
sweeping  circles  high  in  the  air,  occasionally  descending  lower 


XKliriHAWK. 


4/1 


3^ 


AT. 

'S. 

)  rictal  bristles.  Above, 
brown,  a  \Y.\U:h  of  wliiu- 

of  t;iay  and  a  jiatcli  ot 

liilc  with  l)ais  of  brown  ; 

chcs. 

rally  laid  upon  a  rock  or 
|1  roof  in  a  city. 

li  with  brcnvn,  slate,  and 

[hawks  arrive  in  the 
re  first  seen  near  the 
limes  appears  to  be  a 
Itinent  they  penetrate 
lie  Rocky  Mountains. 
e  likewise  observeii 
\\y  and  the  remotes! 
x-rmediate  region  to 
(".forgia.  They  arc 
fairs,  saiHnL!;  rouml  in 
llv  descending  lower 


to  capture  ilying  inserts,  cliii'tly  of  the   larger  kind,  such    as 
wasps,    beetles,    and    mollis,     .\boiit    the    middle    of    .May,   or 
later,  the  female   selects   some   o|)en   >\h)\    in   the   woo(N.    the 
corner   of  a   corn-field    or    dry    gravelly    knoll,    nn    uhic  h    to 
di'|>osit   her  eggs,  which  are  only  two,  and  (onnnillrd  tu  the 
bare  ground,  where,  Iiowcvcr,  from  the  similarity   of  their  tint 
with  the  soil,  they  are,  in  fact,  more  secure   from   observation 
than  if  ])laced  in  a  ncNt.      Here  the  male  and   his  mate  reside 
during  the   ])eriod   of  incubation,  roosting  at  a   distance  from 
each  other  on  the  ground  or  in   the  neighboring  trees;  and  in 
conse(iuence  of  the  particular  formation  of  their  fei't,  like  the 
rest  of  the  genus,  they  roost  or  sit  lengthwise  on  the  branch. 
During  the  ])r()gress  of  incubation  the  female  is  seen  frc(iuently, 
for  some   hours  before  nightfall,  playing  about  in  the  air  (ner 
the  favorite  spot,  mounting  in  wide  circles,  occasionally  pro- 
jjclled  by  alternate   (juick   and   slow  vibrations  of  the  wings, 
until  at  times  he   nearly  ascends   beyond  the  reach   of  sigiit, 
and   is  only  known  by   his  sharp  and  sudden  sfpieak,  which 
greatly  resembles  the  flying  shriek  of  the  towering  Swift.     .\t 
other  times  he  is  seen  suddenly  to  preciiutate  himself  down- 
wards for  60  or  80  feet,  and  wheeling  u|)  again  as  rapiilly  ;  at 
which    instant   a    hollow  whirr,   like   the    ra])id   turning  of  a 
spinning-wheel  or  a  strong  blowing  into  the  bung-hole  of  an 
em]»ty  hogshead,  is  heard,  and   supposed   to  be  produced   liy 
the  action  of  the  air  on  the  wings  or  in  the  oi)en  mouth  of  the 
bird.     He  then  again  mounts  as  before,  playing  about  in  his 
ascent  and  giving  out  his  harsh  squeak  till  in  a  few  moments 
the  hovering  is  renewed  as  before  ;  and  at  this  occui)ation  tlie 
male  solely  continues  till   the  close  of  twilight.     The   Kuro- 
pean   (loatsucker   is   heard    to   titter    the    hollow  whirr  when 
perched  and  while  holding  it  head  downwards,  so  that  it  does 
not  appear  to  be  produced   by  the  rushmg  of  the  air.     'i'he 
female,  if  disturbed  while  silting  on  her  cliarge,  will  suffer  the 
spectator  to  advance  within  a  foot  or  two  of  her  before  she 
leaves  the  nest;  she   then  tumbles  about  and   Outters  with  an 
appearance   of  lameness  to   draw   off  the    observer,   when   at 
length  she   mounts   into  the   air  and  disa])pears.     On   other 


472 


GCJATSUCKERS. 


occasions  the  parent,  probably  the  attending  male,  puffs  him- 
self up  as  it  were  into  a  ball  of  feathers;  at  the  same  time 
striking  his  wings  on  the  ground  and  opening  his  capacious 
mouth  to  its  full  extent,  he  stares  wildly  and  utters  a  blowing 
hiss  like  that  of  the  Barn  CJwl  when  surprised  in  his  hole.  On 
observing  this  grotesque  manuiuvre,  and  this  appearance  so 
unlike  that  of  a  volatile  bird,  we  are  struck  with  the  propriety 
of  the  metaphorical  French  name  of  Crapaiid  volans,  or 
Flying  Toad,  which  this  bird  indeed  much  resembles  while 
thus  shapelessly  tumbling  before  the  astonished  sjjectator. 
'{'he  same  feint  is  also  made  when  he  is  wounded,  on  being 
approached.  Like  some  of  the  other  species,  instinctively 
vigilant  for  the  safety  of  their  misshapen  and  tender  brood, 
these  birds  also  probably  convey  them  or  the  eggs  from  the 
scrutiny  of  the  meddling  observer.  In  our  climate  they  have 
no  more  than  a  single  brood. 

Soiiietimes  the  Nighthawk,  before  his  departure,  is  seen  to 
visit  the  towns  and  cities,  sailing  in  circles  and  uttering  his 
squeak  as  he  flies  high  and  securely  over  the  busy  streets, 
occasionally  sweei)ing  down,  as  usual,  with  his  whirring  notes ; 
and  at  tinu's  he  may  be  observed,  even  on  the  tops  of  chim- 
neys, uttering  his  harsh  call.  In  gloomy  weather  these  birds 
are  abroad  no; rly  the  whole  day,  but  are  most  commonly  in 
motion  an  hour  or  two  before  dusk.  Sometimes  indeed  they 
are  seen  out  in  the  brightest  and  hottest  weather,  and  occa- 
sionally, while  baski.ig  in  the  sun,  find  means  to  give  chase  to 
tlie  Cicimkli,  Carahi,  and  other  entirely  diurnal  insects,  as 
well  as  grasshoppers,  with  which  they  often  gorge  thtmr,el\es 
in  a  surprising  manner  ;  but  they  probably  seldom  feed  nv^re 
than  an  hour  or  two  in  the  course  of  the  day.  On  \Va])iiat()() 
Island,  at  the  estuary  of  the  W'ahlamet,  they  were  till  the  loth 
of  September  numerous  and  familiar,  alighting  often  close  to 
the  dwellings,  in  quest  probably  of  crawling  insects  which  come 
out  in  the  dark. 

.About  the  middle  of  August  they  begin  their  p.igrations 
towards  the  south,  on  which  occasion  they  may  be  s^en  in  the 
evening  moving  in  scattered  flocks  consisting  of  streral  iiun- 


ig  male,  puffs  hini- 
;  at  the  same  time 
ning  his  capacious 
id  utters  a  blowing 
:d  in  his  hole.  On 
this  appearance  so 
with  the  propriety 
'rapaud  volans,  ox 
;h  resembles  while 
onished  spectator, 
ivounded,  on  being 
)ecies,  instinctively 
and  tender  brood, 
the  eggs  from  the 
climate  they  have 

parture,  is  seen  to 
s  and  uttering  his 
■  the  busy  streets, 
his  whirring  notes  ; 
1  the  tops  of  chim- 
eather  these  birds 
most  commonly  in 
etimes  indeed  they 
i-eather,  and  ocea- 
ns to  give  chase  to 
:liurnal  insects,  as 
gorge  themselves 
seldom  feed  more 
ly.  On  \Va])]xUoo 
were  till  the  loth 
ing  often  close  to 
nsects  which  come 

1  their  p.igrations 
nay  be  s.'en  in  the 
ig  of  stv-eral  hun- 


MGHTIIAWK. 


473 


dreds  together,  and  darting  after  insects  or  feeding  leisurely  as 
they  advance  towards  more  congenial  climes.  I'or  two  or 
three  weeks  these  processions  along  the  rivers  and  their  banks 
tendmg  towards  their  destination,  are  still  continued.  Mingled 
wuh  the  wandering  host  are  sometimes  also  see^i  the  dirferent 
speciesof  Swallow,  — a  family  to  which  thev  are  so  nnuh  allied 
m  habus  and  character  :  but  b)-  the  20th  of  September  the 
whole  busy  troop  have  disappeared  for  the  season. 

I  have  ob.served  Nighthawks  tiying  over  tl,c  citv  of  St.  Join,,  in 
r^ew  Brunswick,  during  most  of  the  summer  month.s.  and  have 
known  of  the  eggs  being  found  frequcntlv    on  gravel  roofs  in  that 


NoTK.-The  Fr.OKiMA  Xh.htiiawk  (C.  vir^inianus  chah- 
>na,n),  a  smaller  race,  has  been  discovered  breeding  at  Tarpon 
Springs,  Florida.  ^  ^ 


KXD   OF   \-{)L.    I. 


i 


